A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday ruled that former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara must vacate his seat at the lower legislative chamber.
Dogara represents Dass, Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Federal Constituency of Bauchi State.
Justice Donatus Okorowo, while delivering judgment on Friday, declared that having defected from Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, the federal lawmaker was no longer qualified to occupy the seat.
He cited Section 68(1)(g) of the constitution.
The Judge said he was in agreement with the argument of the PDP that by defecting from the party that sponsored him to the ninth National Assembly before the expiration of his tenure, Dogara ought to vacate the seat as he was no longer qualified to partake in the activities of the lower house.
He held that the action of the lawmaker is prohibited by law adding that the aim of Section 68(1)(g) was to check political prostitution among the legislators.
“The judgment is therefore given in favour of the plaintiffs I hereby granted the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs,” the Judge ruled.