Court to give verdict on PDP’s suit against Ayade over defection, Friday

A Federal High Court, Abuja, will on Friday, deliver judgment in  a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State.

The PDP, through its counsel Emmanuel Ukala, had filed the suit before Justice Taiwo Taiwo to seek an order sacking the governor and his deputy over their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), among others.

On Tuesday, gathered from Court 7, where Justice Taiwo presides, that the judgment filed by the PDP against Cross River State governor and his deputy will come up on Friday, March 25.

Justice Taiwo had, on Monday, ordered two House of Representatives members representing Cross River and 18 lawmakers from the state’s House of Assembly to vacate their seats over their defection to APC.

The judge gave the order following a suit filed on August 27, 2021, by the PDP to challenge the 20 lawmakers’ defection to APC, alongside the governor on May 20, 2021.

Justice Taiwo, in the judgment, dismissed the defence argument that the PDP (plaintiff) had no locus standi (legal rights) to institute the case.

He also dismissed other preliminary objections raised by the sacked lawmakers.

Taiwo ruled that the argument of the lawmakers that there was rancour in the PDP which necessitated their defection to APC was a ploy to mislead the court.

The judge, who granted all the reliefs sought by the PDP, held that it was disheartening that politicians in the country treat citizens as if they do not matter once they get into office.