….Orders refund of salaries, directs INEC to conduct fresh poll in 30 days
If a person must decamp, don’t decamp with the mandate of the electorates. The law must punish such moves by taking away the benefits bestowed upon the decampee politician,”
By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – The Federal High Court in Abuja has removed Hon. Abubakar Suleiman Gummi, lawmaker representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, from office for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, October 30, 2025, Justice Obiorah Egwuatu held that Gummi’s defection was unconstitutional and violated Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution. The court described the act as “political prostitution” and ruled that the mandate secured under one party cannot be transferred to another.
“If a person must decamp, don’t decamp with the mandate of the electorates. The law must punish such moves by taking away the benefits bestowed upon the decampee politician,” Justice Egwuatu declared.
The court consequently declared Gummi’s seat vacant and restrained Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, from further recognising him as a member. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was also directed to conduct a fresh election within 30 days to fill the vacant seat.
Gummi, through his counsel, had argued that internal crises within the PDP justified his defection. However, the court dismissed his defence, ruling that no division existed within the party to warrant his action.
Justice Egwuatu further ordered Gummi to refund all salaries and allowances he received from October 30, 2024, until the date of judgment, with proof of repayment to be filed in the court registry within 30 days. The lawmaker was also ordered to pay ₦500,000 in costs to the plaintiffs — the PDP and its Zamfara State Chairman, Jamilu Jibomagayaki.
Condemning what he called the “growing culture of defections” in Nigeria’s political system, Justice Egwuatu stressed that “politicians should respect the wishes of the electorates that elected them into office.”
The ruling marks the first time a member of the 10th National Assembly has been removed by a court for defection amid a recent wave of party crossovers.