The Federal High Court in Abuja has removed Abubakar Gummi, the representative for Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency in Zamfara State, from office following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Delivering the judgement, Justice Obiora Egwuatu held that Gummi’s continued tenure in the House of Representatives after leaving the party that sponsored his election was unconstitutional.
The court therefore restrained Speaker Tajudeen Abbas from recognising Gummi as a sitting member.
The court further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election to fill the now-vacant seat within 30 days from the date of judgement.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1803/2024, was filed by the PDP and its Zamfara State chairman, Jamilu Jibomagayaki, represented by Ibrahim Bawa (SAN).
The plaintiffs argued that, under Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, a lawmaker loses their seat if they defect to another party without a division occurring in their original party.
Justice Egwuatu agreed with the plaintiffs, declaring Gummi’s defection unconstitutional and awarded N500,000 in costs against the defendants.
The certified true copy of the judgement was delivered on Thursday, October 30, 2025, and sighted on Friday, October 31, 2025.
This ruling underscores the judiciary’s enforcement of constitutional provisions regarding political party defections and sets the stage for a by-election in the Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency.
