PDP asks court to sack lawmaker for defecting

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking the removal of Hon. Oluwole Oke from the House of Representatives following his defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

In a suit filed by lead counsel Raphael Oyewole, the PDP asked the court to compel House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to declare Oke’s seat vacant, citing Section 68(1)(g) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution. The party maintains that Oke switched parties without any known division, faction, or merger within the PDP to justify such a move.

The PDP also urged the court to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission to begin the process of conducting a bye-election to fill the Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency seat.

In addition, the party wants the Clerk of the National Assembly to halt all salary and benefit payments to Oke, and for the lawmaker to refund all emoluments received from the date of his defection to the date of judgment.

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Oke, who is serving his sixth term in the House, resigned from the PDP in a letter dated April 16, citing consultations with political allies, friends, and family.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1040/2025, lists Oke, the Speaker, the Clerk of the National Assembly, and INEC as the first to fifth defendants. The PDP is seeking seven legal questions for determination and eight specific court orders.

Meanwhile, lawyer and activist Pelumi Olajengbesi has announced his interest in contesting the now-disputed seat and has begun mobilizing support in the constituency.

The suit is yet to be assigned to a judge.

NAN