Federal High Court sacks Dogara from House of Reps

For jumping the boat from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a Federal High Court has sacked
Former Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara as member representing Dass, Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Federal Constituency of Bauchi State.
Dogara had, on July 24, 2020, defected from the PDP to the APC when he submitted a resignation letter to the chairman of the Bogoro ‘C’ Ward in the state.
While delivering judgment, Justice Donatus Okorowo, declared that having defected from PDP to APC, Dogara was no longer qualified to occupy the seat by virtue of Section 68(1)(g) of the constitution.

Justice Okorowo agreed with the argument of the PDP (plaintiff) that by defecting from the party that sponsored him to the ninth National Assembly before the expiration of his tenure, Dogara ought to vacate the seat as he was no longer qualified to partake in the activities of the lower house.

The judge, who held that the action of the lawmaker is prohibited by law, agreed that the aim of Section 68(1)(g) was to check political prostitution among the legislators.

“The judgment is, therefore, given in favour of the plaintiffs I hereby granted the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs,” he declared.

PDP and one of its members in Bauchi State had, in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1060/20, sued Dogara, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.