The seats of 20 MPs from Cross River were ruled vacant by a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a ruling, Justice Taiwo Taiwo dismissed the defense claim that the PDP (plaintiff) lacked locus standi (legal standing) to bring the lawsuit.
The lawmakers’ contention that there was rancor in the PDP, necessitating their defection to the APC, was determined by Justice Taiwo to be a ruse to deceive the court.
The court, who accepted all of the PDP’s requests, said it was depressing that leaders in the country treat citizens as if they are unimportant once they are elected.
We cannot persist in sin and expect grace to abound, according to him.
The decision impacted two members of the House of Representatives and 18 members of the Cross River House of Assembly.
