PDP asks court to declare 5 ‘rebel’ govs’ seat vacant

Poised for a last fight, the Alhaji Bamangar Tukur-led Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, asked the Abuja Division of the
Federal High Court to declare seats of the five 'rebel governors' that
left its fold to the All Progressive Congress, APC, vacant.
The five governors are Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, Rotimi Amaechi
of Rivers, Alhaji Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto, Alhaji Rabiu
Kwankwaso of Kano and Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed of Kwara State.
The party maintained that going by the express provisions of Sections
177 (c), 221 and 222 (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria, the court ought to declare that the governors are
ineligible to remain in office, having defected to the APC.
Aside the five Governors, PDP, equally joined the Independent National
Electoral Commission, INEC, as a defendant in the suit.
In the suit which it filed through a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr
Alex Aigbe Iziyon, the party, beseeched the court for, among others,
"a declaration that by the combined provisions of Sections 177 (c),
221 and 222 (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
1999 (as amended) the 2nd to 6th defendants who were elected on the
platform of the plaintiff cannot continue to enjoy the mandate given
to the plaintiff by the people/electorate of the respective states as
the 2nd to 6th defendants have defected to the All Progressive
Congress (APC).
"A declaration that in the absence of any division known and
recognised by law in the plaintiff, the 2nd to 6th defendants who were
elected under the plaintiff's platform have vacated or forfeited their
seats forthwith upon their defection to All Progressive Congress
(APC)."
Besides, PDP further sought an order of the high court,
mandating/directing the state Houses of Assembly of Adamawa, Rivers,
Sokoto, Kano and Kwara, to forthwith, commence impeachment proceedings
against the 2nd to 6th defendants.
Meanwhile, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim
Auta, is yet to assign the case to any judge for adjudication.