4 leaders of the Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Celebration (PDP) have prayed the Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja to order Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere to vacate his seat, having been expelled from the get together.
The chieftains, in a contemporary swimsuit filed by their lawyer, Johnson Usman (SAN) additionally sought an order directing the lawmaker to refund all of the salaries, allowances and all emolument collected from the date of his expulsion to the federal authorities forthwith.
Ugochinyere is the member representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency within the Home of Representatives.
The originating summons, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/358/2025, is dated Feb. 26 and filed Feb. 27 by Usman.
The plaintiffs are Mr Austine Nwachukwu, Imo PDP Chairman; Mr Thankgod Okeke, PDP LGA Chairman, Ideato North LGA; Mrs Agatha Onyejisi, PDP Ward Chairman of Umuopia/Umukegwu Ward in Ideato North LGA, and Mr Carl Nwokoma, Imo PDP Vice Chairman/Orlu Zonal Chairman.
They sued Ugochinyere, Home of Representatives Speaker, PDP and the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.
The chieftains sought eight questions for willpower.
They need the court docket to find out whether or not by advantage of the provisions of Sections 65 (2)(b), 68(1)(b) of the 1999 Structure (as amended), any member of the Nationwide Meeting (NASS) who has misplaced the membership of the political get together that sponsored his election earlier than the expiration of his time period robotically loses his seat within the meeting, until saved by the exception beneath that part.
“Whether or not by advantage of the provisions of Sections 65 (2b), 68(1)(b) of the 1999 Structure, the first defendant (Ugochinyere) who was expelled from the third defendant (PDP), earlier than the expiration of the time period for which he was elected, has robotically misplaced his seats within the Nationwide Meeting.
“Whether or not by advantage of Part 68(2) of the Structure, the 2nd defendant (Speaker) is beneath authorized obligation and obligation to declare as vacant, the seat of the Ist defendant within the Home of Representatives within the Nationwide Meeting in any other case known as the tenth Meeting,” amongst others.
They, subsequently, urged the court docket to declare that Ugochinyere is now not a member of NASS from the date he was expelled from the political get together beneath which he was elected to NASS as a member of Home of Representatives representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency in Imo within the 2023 common elections.
They sought an order directing the Home speaker to offer impact to Part 68(1) of the 1999 Structure pursuant to Part 68(2) of the identical structure to forthwith declare Ugochinyere’s seat vacant on the ground of the home.
In addition they sought an order directing INEC to organise and conduct a bye-election into the seat of the member representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo inside 90 days, amongst different reliefs.
Within the affidavit he deposed to, Nwachukwu mentioned he’s a card carrying member and present state’s chairman of the PDP.
He mentioned as 1st plaintiff, he had the consent and authority of the 2nd, third and 4th plaintiffs to depose to the affidavit.
He mentioned Ugochinyere, who was elected as member representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency within the 2023 common elections on PDP’s platform, was a registered member of the get together in Umuopia/Umukegwu Ward.
Nwachukwu alleged that resulting from his anti-party actions, Ugochinyere was invited by Umuopia/Umukegwu Ward Committee of the PDP by a letter dated Sept. 30, 2024, to look earlier than the Disciplinary Committee, however he didn’t honour the invitation.
He mentioned by one other letter of reminder dated Oct. 7, 2024, the lawmaker was additional invited to look earlier than the Disciplinary Committee, but in addition didn’t honour the invitation.
The state chairman averred that Ugochinyere was suspended on Oct. 14, 2024, by his ward resulting from his anti-party actions.
He mentioned his suspension by his Ward Government Committee was communicated to the LGA Chairman, PDP Ideato North LGA of Imo on Oct. 14, 2024.
He mentioned the Disciplinary Committee additionally invited him on Oct. 26, 2024, through a letter dated Oct. 19, 2024, however didn’t honour the invitation.
Nwachukwu mentioned although he was invited a number of instances, he refused to honour the invitation of the committee.
“I do know that the Disciplinary Committee discovered the first defendant liable of the allegations levelled in opposition to him that led to his suspension by his ward committee and consequently advisable his expulsion from the PDP.”
In accordance with him, the PDP Native Authorities Executives of Ideato North LGA, expelled the first defendant from PDP on the fifth day of December, 2024 and communicated identical to the state chairman of the PDP on the fifth day of December, 2024.
He mentioned he communicated the rapid expulsion of Ugochinyere to the appearing Nationwide Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagun, on Dec. 9, 2024.
He mentioned that every one the 27 PDP chairmen in Imo recognized with the choice of the members and management of PDP in Umuopia Ward and the Ideato North as concerning the expulsion.
“I do know that by the expulsion, the first defendant is now not a member of the PDP in his ward.
“I do know that the expulsion of the first defendant from his political get together is just not a topic of litigation earlier than any court docket,” Nwachukwu averred.
He mentioned it’s within the curiosity of justice, good governance and democratic tenets for the court docket to reply the questions raised and to grant the reliefs sought.
The case, which was filed on Thursday, is but to be assigned to a decide.
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