Court Sacks Zamfara Lawmaker Abubakar Gummi For Defecting To APC

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed Hon. Abubakar Gummi as the member representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency in Zamfara State following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a ruling delivered on Thursday, Justice Obiora Egwuatu declared Gummi’s seat vacant and prohibited the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, from recognising him as a serving lawmaker. The court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a bye-election within 30 days to fill the vacant seat.

The case, instituted by the PDP and its Zamfara State chairman, Jamilu Jibomagayaki, maintained that Gummi’s defection violated Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which stipulates that a legislator automatically forfeits their seat if they defect from the party that sponsored their election without a proven division in the party.

Gummi, through his counsel, claimed his defection was triggered by internal wrangling within the PDP, which he said affected his ability to deliver effective representation to his constituents.

Rejecting his argument, Justice Egwuatu ruled in favour of the PDP, stressing that elected officials must honour the mandate given to them under the platform that brought them to power. “It is legally and morally wrong for a politician to abandon the party under which they were elected and move to another without relinquishing the mandate,” he said. “Political prostitution must not be rewarded.”

The court further directed Gummi to refund all salaries and allowances he had received from October 30, 2024, to the date of the judgment and submit proof of repayment within 30 days.

Additionally, the judge awarded N500,000 in costs to the plaintiffs.