Court orders 37 defected PDP House of Reps members to resign

The 37 PDP House of Representatives members who defected to APC in December 2013 have been ordered to vacate their seats and the House.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja gave the order today while delivering judgment in a suit filed against the defected lawmakers by the PDP. The judge said the lawmakers no longer had any business, morally and legally in the Assembly and so should resign.

"Having perused the arguments of counsel and the constitutional provisions, it is clear and unambiguous that the defendants were sponsored by the PDP and won the election on its platform. It is also the court’s opinion that their tenure has not expired and there is no division in the PDP.

“The defendants are, therefore, not competent to vote or contribute to any proceedings in the House of Representatives. An order of perpetual injunction is, hereby, ordered, restraining them from altering or attempting to change the leadership of the House of Reps,” Justice Ademola said.

In January 2014, PDP instituted a suit against the defected lawmakers who attempted to cause an alteration in the leadership of the House of Representative.