A Federal High Court has ruled against the suit by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that Cross River Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade and his deputy, Dr Ivara Esu be removed from their positions for defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ayade and his deputy, who were elected on the platform of the PDP, jumped ship to the APC last May 20.
In his judgment on Thursday, Justice Taiwo Taiwo held that in view of the 1st April 1, 2022 by the Court of Appeal in Enugu, upholding the defection of Ebonyi State Governor, Chief David Umahi and his deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe, he could not hold otherwise.
Justice Taiwo, who held that it would amount to judicial rascality for him not to be bound by a decision of the Court of Appeal, proceeded to dismiss the suit by the PDP.
On 1st April, the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu held that Umahi and Igwe offended neither the Constitution nor the Electoral Act by defecting to another party.
Umahi and Igwe were also PDP candidates when they won the 2019 election but crossed over to the APC in December 2020.
