20 Cross River State lawmakers we’re yesterday sacked by Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In his ruling, Justice Taiwo held that there was no justification for the defection of the lawmakers. The defected lawmakers include two House of Representatives members and 18 members of state House of Assembly. Justice Taiwo specifically said the lawmakers needed to vacate their seats, since they had abandoned the party, which brought them to power.
The judgment followed a suit filed by the PDP marked FHC/ABJ/CS/975/2021 against the lawmakers over their defection. The affected lawmakers are Michael Etaba, Legor Idagbor, Eteng Jonah William, Joseph A. Bassey, Odey Peter Agbe, Okon E. Ephraim, Regina L. Anyogo, Matthew S. Olory, Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, Ogbor Ogbor Udop and Ekpe Charles Okon.
Others are Hillary Ekpang Bisong, Francis B. Asuquo, Elvert Ayambem, Davis Etta, Sunday U. Achunekan, Cynthia Nkasi, Edward Ajang, Chris Nja-Mbu Ogar and Maria Akwaji.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), speaker of the House of Representatives, National Assembly, clerk of the National Assembly, Cross River State House of Assembly, clerk of the State Assembly and the APC were also joined as defendants in the suit.
In opposition to the suit, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), counsel to the 4th-25th defendants, had challenged the court’s jurisdiction to hear the suit. He had submitted that the cause of action arose in Calabar and that the matter should be transferred to the high court in Calabar.
However, Justice Taiwo held that “there is nothing against the law that the suit be heard by this court.” He said the 4-25th defendants are joined with other defendants who have their offices in Abuja.
“Where there are more than one defendant, the suit can be established anywhere subject to the discretion of the court. I find no merit in the application for transfer,” he declared.
In their defence, the lawmakers had further argued that there was a rancour in the PDP, which led to their expulsion from the party. On its part, the APC had in its submissions, told the court that the lawmakers are not its registered members.
But the trial judge held that the defendants had intentions to mislead the court. He said he found gaps and loopholes in their defence as they tried to twist events to suit their own narratives and axed them for defecting unjustifiably.
The APC Cross River State chapter has said there is no cause for alarm. A statement by the Party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Erasmus Ekpang and the State Chairman, Alphonsus Ogar Eba, said the judgment against “our lawmakers is nothing to worry about…we trust that the appellate Court will do justice as we file our appeal.” The Party’s leadership therefore, urged APC members to stay calm and not be distracted.
However, there was anxiety in the state as news of the sacking of the 20 lawmakers hit town, especially as the state governor is facing a similar situation and judgment in his matter is expected to come up on March 28.
While APC calls for calm, former Governor of Cross River State and leader of the PDP, Sen. Liyel Imoke, has described the sacking of 20 lawmakers as pure restoration of the democratic mandates given to the PDP by citizens of the state.
According to Imoke, the painstaking judgment by the judge is in line with the spirit of the law and the 1999 Constitution, considering the heated debate on defection of elected officials.
