The Court of Appeal overturned the decision to fire the Zamfara Representative

The Abuja Court of Appeal on Friday overturned the decision to dismiss Abubakar Gummi as a member of the House of Representatives.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on October 30, 2025 dismissed the lawmaker for switching from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a unanimous decision on Friday, a three-member appellate court panel stated that a lower court erred in declaring Gummi’s seat vacant on the grounds that he defected from the PDP on whose platform he contested the election, to the APC.

Gummi, representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Zamfara Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives has defected from the PDP to the APC due to the leadership crisis in the party, especially at the national level.

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Justice Oyebiola Oyewumi, who read the judgment stated, among other things, that the appellant had the inherent right in the face of the crisis in the PDP to leave the party.

Justice Oyewumi upheld the reasons given by Gummi to support his decision to sack the PDP.

He further argued that a party member has the right to seek a better platform to contest elections if his current platform is threatened.