Court rejects PDP’s bid to remove Jallo over alleged defection to APC

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to void the seat of Hussaini Jallo, representing Igabi Federal Constituency in Kaduna State's House of Representatives. The suit was initiated over allegations that Jallo had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Justice James Omotosho ruled that the PDP failed to provide adequate evidence to substantiate the claim of defection.

The court acknowledged the PDP's legal right to bring the case, but found the evidence insufficient to support the allegation. The judge emphasized that under the amended 1999 Constitution, an elected legislator who defects from the party that sponsored the election may lose their seat unless the defection results from internal party divisions.

However, the PDP was unable to present credible evidence to prove Jallo's defection to the APC. The court rejected the uncertified copies of documents related to the March 18, 2025 House of Representatives proceedings, where the PDP alleged Jallo's defection. Furthermore, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stated that it had not received a membership register confirming Jallo's joining of the APC.

The defendants also denied the alleged defection, and Jallo maintained he had not resigned from the PDP, citing a lack of a resignation letter from the party. The court held that the PDP had not provided sufficient credible evidence to establish Jallo's actual defection, and thus dismissed the lawsuit for lacking merit.