By Ademuyiwa Balikis
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has removed Abubakar Suleiman Gummi from the House of Representatives for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Gummi, who represents the Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, was sacked by Justice Obiora Egwuatu in a judgment delivered on Thursday, October 30, 2025.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1803/2024, was filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Zamfara State chairman, Jamilu Jibomagayaki, against Gummi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Justice Egwuatu ruled that Gummi’s defection to the APC before the end of his tenure violated Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that a lawmaker shall vacate his seat if he ceases to be a member of the political party on whose platform he was elected, except in the case of a division or merger within that party.
The court held that the defendant failed to prove that the PDP was factionalised or divided at the time of his defection. It also described his excuse of internal crises within the party as invalid under the law.
In his judgment, Justice Egwuatu stated that a lawmaker’s mandate belongs to the political party through which he was elected, not to the individual. He condemned what he called political prostitution, saying it undermines the democratic process and should not be rewarded.
Consequently, the court ordered the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to stop recognising Gummi as the member representing the Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was also directed to conduct a fresh election within 30 days to fill the vacant seat.
Justice Egwuatu further ordered Gummi to refund all salaries and allowances he had received since October 30, 2024, the date of his defection, up to the day of the judgment, and to file proof of repayment within 30 days.
The court also awarded a cost of ₦500,000 in favour of the plaintiffs.The decision reinforces previous court rulings that lawmakers who defect from the political parties that sponsored their elections, without a valid reason recognised by law, automatically lose their seats.
