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By Emmanuel Adeleke
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to declare the seat of Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, vacant.
While delivering judgement on Thursday, Justice Taiwo Taiwo cited the judgement of the Court of Appeal in Enugu that defection is not a ground for removal from office.
The judge noted that the removal of a sitting governor and his deputy can only be done in accordance with constitutional provisions.
He noted that under such provisions, the judiciary lacks the powers to remove an elected officer.
Ayade defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to APC in May 2021, citing the allure of working with President Muhammadu Buhari.
The PDP subsequently filed a suit against Ayade and his deputy, Professor Ivara Esu, arguing that they had abandoned the political party that sponsored their re-election.