Court of Appeal Restores Zamfara Lawmaker Removed for Leaving PDP

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a Federal High Court judgment that removed a member of the House of Representatives, Abubakar Gummi, from office after he defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a unanimous decision delivered on Friday, a three-member panel of the appellate court ruled that the lower court erred when it declared Gummi’s seat vacant on the basis of his defection from the PDP to the APC.

Gummi, who represents the Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, had left the PDP citing internal leadership crises within the party at the national level.

The Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier, on October 30, 2025, ordered his removal from the House of Representatives following a suit filed by the PDP and the party’s Zamfara State chairman, Jamilu Jibomagayaki, challenging the defection.

However, while delivering the appellate court’s judgment, Justice Oyebiola Oyewumi held that the trial court was wrong to sack the lawmaker, noting that the appellant had the right to leave his party in view of the prevailing circumstances within the PDP.

The court also affirmed that a political office holder may seek another platform if the stability of the party under which he was elected becomes threatened.

The appellate court consequently allowed the appeal and set aside the earlier ruling that removed the lawmaker from office. It also awarded ₦1 million in costs against the PDP and its Zamfara chairman in favour of Gummi.