Defection: I Didn’t Decamp From PDP, Akpabio Tells Court

The former Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that he was suspended and expelled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Senator Akpabio, through his counsel, Mr Sunday Ameh, said this on Tuesday in reaction to a suit seeking his removal and that of 53 other members of the National Assembly.

He described the suit which was filed on account of the lawmakers’ defection in 2018 as incompetent.

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The lawmaker informed Justice Okon Abang that an advocacy group, Legal Aides Assistant Project (LEDAP), instituted the case without a locus standi, adding that it should be dismissed by the court.

He insisted that LEDAP was not a political party or a member of the National Assembly and as such, it cannot cry for the political parties where the lawmakers decamped from.

Relying on Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, he justified his movement through what he referred to as ‘an uncommon’ situation within (PDP), which compelled him to opt to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as an alternative party to actualise his political interest.

Senator Akpabio’s counsel tendered two exhibits before Justice Abang which include a suspension letter from the PDP and later an expulsion from the party at the local government level.

He, therefore, urged the court to accept the peculiar fact that he did not willingly leave the PDP which sponsored his senatorial election in 2015.

The lawmaker insisted that his defection to the APC was as a result of the action of the PDP against him.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Jibrin Okutepa, also made his case before the court.

After listening to both the parties, Justice Abang adjourned till May 17 on condition of availability of judicial time to rule on the matter.

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