ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi state, has described the judgement which declared the seat of the immediate Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, vacant for defecting from the party, as victory for democracy.
The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, declared the seat of Dogara who represents Dass/Tafawa Balewa/Bogoro Federal Constituency of Bauchi State vacant for defecting from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a swift reaction to the judgement, Dogara, through his counsel, J.J. Usman, said he would approach the Court of Appeal on Monday to appeal the judgement.
In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of the PDP in Bauchi State, Hamza Koshe-Akuyam and Jibrin S. Jibrin on behalf of the PDP legal team, said the judgement has given the party an opportunity to reclaim its seat through a bye-election which would be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
They said the judgement would serve as a deterrent to politicians who take the electorates for granted by winning elections and thereafter dumping the party upon whose platform they became victorious.
They expressed gratitude to the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, for his support and encouragement and the leadership and teeming members of the PDP at all levels for their faith in the judicial system as well as sustained motivation throughout the course of the proceedings that resulted in the great judgement.
They concluded that: “The people of Dass/Tafawa Balewa/Bogoro Federal Constituency in Bauchi State to whom we have personally vowed to follow every legal step necessary to reclaim this mandate as the PDP Chairman in Bauchi State, we appreciate you all for believing in us and supporting us to do the job for you. For democracy and its dividend to the common man, we assure you that we shall always stand together.”
