PDP, Ebonyi South zone sue Sen Ogbuoji over defection

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7 years ago

SOME members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi South Senatorial zone have sued Senator Sonni Ogbuoji for defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and urged the court to declare the senatorial seat at the National Assembly vacant.

In the Suit No FHC/AI/CS/44/2018, Evoh Ogbonnaya and four others who sued for themselves and all members of the PDP in Ebonyi South Senatorial zone sought the order of the court to recall Senator Ogbuoji for leaving PDP, on which platform he was elected a senator in 2015.

They also sought the court interpretation on whether Senator Ogbuoji should remain on seat after defecting from his former party whereas there is no crisis in his former party and prayed the court to grant an order declaring the defendant’s seat vacant.

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The plaintiffs also sought the court interpretation on whether Senator Ogbuoji should not vacate his seat or deemed to have vacated his seat to make him liable to refund to the National Assembly all sums of money paid him by the virtue of his position as a senator.

Other reliefs sought by the members of the party included the declaration of the court that the seat of Ebonyi South senatorial zone should be vacant or be vacated by senator Ogbuoji for defecting from his former party to APC in the absence of crisis and factions as well as refund all the money he received.

They also prayed the court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return earlier issued to Senator Ogbuoji on the ground that he (Ogbuoji) lost his position the day he defected to All Progressives Congress, APC.

The counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. George Okorie was optimistic that with clear evidence backed with necessary documents, his clients would get justice.

Recall that a senatorial aspirant under the People’s Democratic Party PDP chief Micheal Ama Nnachi has called on senator representing Ebonyi South Sonni Ogbuoji to drop his governorship ambition and support Governor David Umahi re-election as he vowed to retire Ogbuoji politically if he continues to challenge Governor Umahi.