DEFECTION: APC LAWMAKERS HEAD FOR APPEAL COURT

Eleven defecting senators and 37 members of the House of Representatives have filed a referral appeal before the Appeal Court Abuja Division for interpretation of the constitutional provision on their defection.
SENATORS BUKOLA SARAKI, Abdullahi Adamu, Ali Ndume, Umar Dahiru, Muhammadu Lafiagi, Magnus Abe, Wilson Ake, Danjuma Goje, Bindowo Umar Jibrilla, Aisha Alhassan and Ibrahim Gobir and 37 members of the House of Representatives had decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC).
The PDP in three different suits wants the court to compel the Senate President David Mark and Speaker Aminu Tambuwal respectively to declare the seats of the lawmakers vacant. The PDP argued that the lawmakers failed to comply with the provision for division in the party as stipulated in section 68(1) (2) and (g) of the 1999 Constitution.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to the lawmakers Mahmud Magaji (SAN) argued that the appeal referral was brought under section 295 (2) of the Constitution and
urged the court to adjourn the judgment earlier scheduled for the day indefinitely.
But defence counsels J.K. Gadzama (SAN), Ken Ikonne and Alex Marama opposed the application on the grounds that the application for referral of the constitutional interpretation as provided in section 295 (2) ought not to be brought by a party in the suit.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed fixed ruling for Friday March 28. He also fixed April 17 for ruling on application for indefinite adjournment of two separate suits by the PDP against the defecting Senators and Representatives.