Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State is currently trying to arrest the judgement of a Federal High Court in a case seeking to sack him for decamping from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo had earlier fixed March 25, 2022 to deliver the judgement but suddenly adjourned the case till Wednesday April 6, 2022.
But on the day of judgement, Ayade through his lawyers filed a fresh motion arguing that a Court of Appeal in Enugu in the case involving Governor Dave Umahi had last week held that constitutionally, there are no consequences for state executives who defect from the political party on whose platform they were elected into office.
Even though the parties had adopted their addresses and made their final arguments, Governor Ayade wants Justice Taiwo to reopen the case on the day fixed for judgment.
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The court is expected to rule on the motion after the lawyers to both sides have made their arguments and counter arguments. The ruling will determine whether the judgement on the substantive issue will be delivered.
In March, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the same Abuja division of the Federal High Court, had sacked the governor of Ebonyi state over similar issue of defecting from the PDP to the APC. The appeal on that decision is yet to be taken by the Court of Appeal.
Details Later….
Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe
