The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has initiated legal proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking the removal of four federal lawmakers from Osun State who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The affected legislators include Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi (Osun East), Senator Olubiyi Oluwole Fadeyi (Osun Central), Hon. Omirin Emmanuel Olusanya (Atakumosa East/West and Ilesa East/West Federal Constituency), and Hon. Taofeek Abimbola Ajilesoro (Ife Central/East/North and South Federal Constituency).
In four separate suits filed on Wednesday through its lead counsel, Raphael Oyewole, the PDP listed each lawmaker as the first defendant. The Senate President was joined as second defendant in cases involving senators, while the Speaker of the House of Representatives was named as second defendant in suits against House members.
The National Assembly, the Clerk of the National Assembly, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were cited as third to fifth defendants respectively in all cases.
The opposition party's legal argument hinges on Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which stipulates that lawmakers who abandon the political party that sponsored their election, without evidence of division, merger, or faction in that party, automatically forfeit their seats.
Among the reliefs sought by the PDP are:
An order compelling Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to declare the seats vacant
A directive to INEC to conduct bye-elections to fill the affected constituencies and senatorial districts
An order instructing the Clerk of the National Assembly to cease payment of salaries, allowances, and other entitlements to the lawmakers
A refund of all salaries, allowances, and benefits received by the lawmakers from the date of defection until final judgment
The PDP insists that granting these reliefs would enforce Section 68(1)(g) and (2) of the Constitution and restore constitutional order in the National Assembly.
The originating summons were filed under suit numbers FHC/ABJ/CS/1725/2025, FHC/ABJ/CS/1728/2025, FHC/ABJ/CS/1727/2025, and FHC/ABJ/CS/1726/2025 against Fadahunsi, Fadeyi, Olusanya, and Ajilesoro respectively.
This legal battle highlights ongoing tensions within Nigeria's political landscape as parties seek to maintain their numerical strength in legislative chambers ahead of crucial parliamentary decisions.
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