Defection: PDP Asks Court To Remove Gov. Matawalle From Office
ABUJA – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking the removal of Zamfara State governor, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, and his deputy, Alhaji Mahadi Aliyu Gusau, from office over unlawful defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The suit marked FHC/ ABJ/CS/489/202, was filed in the names of two PDP members from Zamfara State, Alhaji Sani Kaura Ahmed and Abubakar Muhammed.
Specifically, the plaintiffs are contending that, in view of an earlier judgment of the Supreme Court, to the effect that the APC had no candidates in the 2019 governorship election in Zamfara State, having not conducted valid primaries, it would be unlawful for Matawalle and Gusau to retain their offices while defecting from the PDP to the APC, and thereby transferring PDP’s victory to the APC.
They want the court to, among others, declare that Matawalle and Gusau must resign from their offices before their defection to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh election, within three months, for the PDP to replace them.
On Monday, following an ex-parte motion argued by the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN), the presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, granted an order of substituted service of the originating processes on the governor and deputy governor.
By the order, the governor and his deputy are to be served with all court papers through the national secretariat of APC in Abuja.
Justice Ekwo, thereafter, fixed July 16, for report of court papers on the two defendants.
