Four leaders of the Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order to compel Ikenga Ugochinyere to vacate his seat in the House of Representatives following his expulsion from the party.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/TheNigerialawyer-WhatsApp-Channel1.jpg")
The PDP chieftains, through their lawyer, Johnson Usman (SAN), are also demanding that the embattled lawmaker refund all salaries, allowances, and emoluments received from the date of his expulsion to the Federal Government.
Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato North and South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, was sued alongside the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the PDP, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as first to fourth defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/358/2025.
The plaintiffs—Austine Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Thankgod Okeke (PDP Ideato North LGA Chairman), Agatha Onyejisi (PDP Ward Chairman, Umuopia/Umukegwu Ward), and Carl Nwokoma (Imo PDP Vice Chairman/Orlu Zonal Chairman)—are seeking the court’s interpretation of constitutional provisions regarding the loss of legislative seats due to expulsion from a sponsoring political party.
The suit raises eight key legal questions, including whether Ugochinyere automatically lost his seat under Sections 65(2)(b) and 68(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) after his expulsion from the PDP. They also ask whether the Speaker is legally obligated to declare the seat vacant under Section 68(2) of the Constitution.
The PDP leaders are urging the court to:
- Declare that Ugochinyere ceased to be a member of the National Assembly from the date of his expulsion.
- Order the Speaker to invoke Section 68(1) & (2) of the Constitution and declare his seat vacant.
- Direct INEC to conduct a bye-election within 90 days to fill the vacant position.
The book, titled The Law of Torts in Nigeria: A Functional Approach, authored by Professor Hagler Sunny Okorie Ph.D and Ikeocha, Nathaniel Ngozi Esq, offers law students, practitioners, and academics a comprehensive guide to understanding and applying tort law in Nigerian courts. Interested buyers can place orders via the following contact numbers: 08028636615, 08037667945, 08032253813, or +234 902 196 2209.
______________________________________________________________________
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR LAWYERS: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE
Reimagine your practice with the power of AI “...this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic.” — Ohio Books Ltd
Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe, Esq., ACIArb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director, Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
Bonus:
Get a FREE eBook titled “How to Use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion” with every purchase.
How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌐 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access directly online at: https://selar.com/prv626
________________________________________________________________________ The Law And Practice Of Redundancy In Nigeria: A Practitioner’s Guide, Authored By A Labour & Employment Law Expert Bimbo Atilola
_______________________________________________________________________
“Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
