Appeal Court Throws Eseme Eyibo Out of the House Of Representatives

ABUJA, January 27, (THEWILL) – A unanimous ruling of the Court of Appeal delivered Friday has sent Honourable Eseme Eyibo (PDP) representing Eket Federal Constituency, Akwa Ibo State, out of the Federal House of Representatives.

The Appeal court in a ruling delivered by Justice Ayo Bada, set aside a Federal High Court ruling which had earlier declared Hon. Eyibo winner of the election conducted for the seat. Justice Bada directed Eyibo to vacate his seat immediately saying, he sneaked into the House of Representatives and must sneak out just the same way.

The appellate court also went further by directing the leadership of the House of Representatives to immediately swear-in Mr. Dan Bassey Abia, who it said won the election, but was blocked from being sworn in by the ruling lower court.

“The primary of the PDP held on the 7th and 8th January through which Dan Bassey Abia emerged as the party’s candidate for the April elections is hereby upheld as it was the primary that was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission and annexed in the suit.

“The trial judge erred by saying that the name of Abia be removed and replaced with that of Eyibo. The party primary is the exclusive right of a political party as the party determines who its candidate in an election should,” Justice Bada said in his lead judgment.