A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo has sacked a lawmaker in Akwa Ibom State, Idongiset Ituen, who recently dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Ituen represents Itu State Constituency in the state House of Assembly.
The suit was filed by Ituen in September this year to pre-empt the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Onofiok Luke, from declaring his seat vacant.
Also named in the suit were the Speaker, the PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State.
The Speaker had filed a counterclaim, seeking for “a declaration that having defected from the PDP to APC before the expiration of the tenure of four years for which he was elected to serve, Ntuen has lost his seat in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.”
The Speaker also requested “An order of court directing Ituen to vacate the Itu State Constituency seat in the state House of Assembly with immediate effect.”
He also prayed the court for “An order of court restraining the Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly or any other person acting on his behalf (including the staff of the House of Assembly) from further recognising Ituen as a member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
“An order of court directing INEC to immediately conduct a bye-election to fill the vacant seat of Itu State Constituency at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.”
The court presided over by F. O. Riman, dismissed the main suit filed by Ituen and granted all the reliefs in the counterclaim.
Ituen’s lawyer, Uyo-Obong Jumbo said they were filing an appeal for a stay of execution of the judgment.
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