A federal high court in Abuja has sacked about fifteen lawmakers of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly (ESHA).

In a judgement delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo on Tuesday, the court order the lawmakers including the Speaker to immediately vacate their seats for defecting to the All Progressive Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the platform which they were elected.

Justice Ekwo who described the defection as unlawful declared their seats vacant and restrained them from further parading themselves in the capacity of members of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly.

The court had earlier sacked the State governor, Dave Umahi and his deputy, Eric Kelechi Igwe,sacked the State governor, Dave Umahi and his deputy, Eric Kelechi Igwe, for similar reason.

FreeStuffsNG:
So who is now in charge of Ebonyi state?

seunmsg:
Appeal will take care of this as well. None of them will lose their seat.

seunmsg:


The governor remains in office until the Supreme Court rules otherwise.

seunmsg:
Appeal will take care of this as well. None of them will lose their seat.

fergie001:

You are very wrong. The cover the Gov & Deputy have doesn't protect the lawmakers.

fergie001:

You are very wrong. The cover the Gov & Deputy have doesn't protect the lawmakers.

Racoon:
No wonder the amended electoral act was incredibly silent about this important issue of indiscriminate political defections and abuse of mandate.

seunmsg:
Appeal will take care of this as well. None of them will lose their seat.

FreeStuffsNG:


Sir, why not let us all wait for the details of the judgement from the court He could turn out right you know. In law, 1+1 is not always 2 you know.

fergie001:

There is a precedence for lawmakers.
The SC has also ruled on a similar issue. It is clear on 68(1)g of the 1999 Constitution.

Lawmakers across board (State or National Assembly) lose their seats. It was silent on Govs, Deputy-Govs, President & Vice President.

Their only grace here is that the issue will drag until their terms are over.

FreeStuffsNG:

Before 8pm tonight, we should get the details.
I am sure the judge considered this precedence yet made no such dichotomy

fergie001:

You are infusing an unrelatable dichotomy here.

The Gov/Deputy-Gov will stay.

Please help read Abegunde v Ondo House of Assembly.

FreeStuffsNG:

Okay sir. Just if I may ask, have you seen and read the details of this particular judgement by His Lordship Justice Ekwo ?

fergie001:

It's not different from what sharpden posted.

This will throw more light;
https://dailypost.ng/2022/03/08/court-sacks-ebonyi-lawmakers-over-unlawful-defection/?amp=1

seunmsg:
Appeal will take care of this as well. None of them will lose their seat.

seunmsg:


They will drag the case till next year before the final Supreme Court judgement is delivered.

sharpden:


Keep on consoling yourself.

seunmsg:
Appeal will take care of this as well. None of them will lose their seat.