The sacking of the former speaker of the  House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara by a Federal High Court has been applauded by a cross-section of the Nigerian society.

 They said that the court action would serve as a deterrent for others that cross carpet at the various Houses of Assembly for pecuniary reasons other than deepening democracy.

Olusosun Adeyinka, a grass root politician in Lagos, said it is condemnable the rate at which legislators cross to other parties on the flimsy excuses of crisis in their parties.

Another person, Abdul Ganiyu who described himself as a political analyst told Business Standards that more stringent measures such as making those who crossed to another return the money they have earned since the time they cross over to another different from theirs.

A Federal High Court in Abuja sacked Yakubu Dogara from the House of Representatives over his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Dogara, who represents Bogoro/Dass federal constituency of Bauchi state, was the speaker of the house of representatives between 2015 and 2019.

In July 2020, he defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, and said his decision was based on the “failure of governance” in Bauchi.

Following his defection, two different suits were instituted in court against him.

The first suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/883/30 was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of United Global Resources for Peace Organisation, while the second suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1060/20 was filed by the PDP.

Danatus Okorowo, the presiding judge of the federal high court, Okorowo had dismissed the first suit on the grounds that the group lacked a locus standi to institute the matter.

Delivering judgment on the second suit on Friday, Okorowo held that  Dogara’s defection from the PDP which sponsored his election was wrong.

The judge also ordered the lawmaker to vacate his seat.

The development comes after a similar judgment on March 8 by Inyang Ekwo, judge of a federal high court, which sacked David Umahi, Ebonyi governor, and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, alongside 16 lawmakers over their defection from the PDP to APC.

Also, on March 21, Taiwo Taiwo, another federal high court judge, ordered 20 lawmakers from Cross River to vacate their seats following their defection from the PDP to APC.

The lawmakers from Cross River comprised two members of the house of representatives and 18 state house of assembly members.

olusola Bello

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