THE Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Monday, sacked the member of the House of Representatives, Mr Ifedayo Sunday Abegunde representing Akure South and North federal constituency from the National Assembly.

The court declared the seat of the only All Progressives Congress (APC) vacant following his defection from Labour Party (LP) on which platform he was elected.

The appellate court ruled that Abegunde did not adhere to the constitutional process of defecting from one party to another.

Abegunde popularly known as Abena had defected from the ruling LP to rival APC because of an alleged division in the party.

However, apparently wanting to prevent his recall from the House of Representatives, Abegunde through his lawyer, Mr Yemi Osinbajo, sought the protection of the Federal High Court.

He asked the court to pronounce that the division within the LP facilitated his defection to the APC.

In his originating summons, Abegunde wanted the court to determine whether or not in view of the provisions of section 68(1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, he is not entitled to dump the LP to another party.

However, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, filed a counter-claim among others claiming that he should automatically vacate the seat having left the LP that sponsored him into the National Assembly.

The lower court however ruled that Abegunde was wrong to have defected from LP to the then Action Congress of Nigeria (AC) thereby declared the seat vacant following which the appellant approached the appeal court to upturn the decision of the lower court.

After the exchange of briefs and written addresses by the plaintiff and defendants, the appeal court dismissed the appeal filed by the lawmaker and upheld the verdict of the lower court.

Aside from setting aside the written address of the lawmaker, the presiding judge said the appellant had violated section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution and should therefore vacate his seat

http://www.tribune.com.ng/news/news-headlines/item/16135-appeal-court-sacks-ondo-apc-reps-member

Lemme wake up

A game of chance

And before you know it,he jets to Supreme Court and the formalities begin again and again till 2015 when his tenure will originally expire. Nigerian Politicians using delay tactics since 1900.

Apart from vacating his seat, he should be made to pay back the salary he got while in APC.

.

This is a welcome judgement...I think we are getting there as a nation. Politicians prostitutes around and play upon our intelligence. It should not end there, he should be made to cough out all the allowances he had collected since the period or time of defection.

Mogidi: Apart from vacating his seat, he should be made to pay back the salary he got while in APC.

Don't be deceived,this guy isn't going anywhere.He will file an appeal in Supreme Court and that will be dragged till 2015 while the status quo remains the same.He attends plenaries,gets more salaries and makes laws for all of us.At the end,he may even be re-elected in 2015 to any positions he wants.That is Politics,you may ask yourself while Prof.Boroffice is still in the Senate as APC member despite his defection from Labour Party.