Court okays Zamfara governor’s defection to APC

Federal High Court says Governor Bello Matawalle violated no aspect of the constitutions of Nigeria or of the PDP and APC by his defection

The Federal High Court in Gusau, Zamfara State capital, on Monday, struck out a suit filed by some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state against Governor Bello Matawalle over his defection last year from the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The court said although it has no jurisdiction to hear the case, since it is neither a pre-election nor post-election case, the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not prohibit a governor from defecting from a party.

The judge, Bappa Aliyu, said the constitutions of the APC and PDP also do not make it unlawful for a governor to decide and defect to any other constitutionally recognised political party operating within Nigeria.

Mr Aliyu said if it were a pre-election case, it should have been filed before an election petitions tribunal, as the Federal High Court lacks jurisdiction to handle it.

On the request by the plaintiffs, including Bashir Saleh, Abduhamid Haruna and Ibrahim Turaki, to remove the governor on the grounds of defecting from the PDP, as presented by their counsel, J. C. Shakaka, Mr Aliyu said it is only an election petitions tribunal or the state House of Assembly that has the power to do so.

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