The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday dismissed a suit seeking to declare the seat of Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade and his deputy Professor Ivara Esu vacant.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo cited the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Enugu that defection is not a ground for removal from office.
The Justice noted that the removal of a sitting governor and his deputy can only be done in line with constitutional provisions.
He added that under such provisions, the judiciary lacks the powers to remove an elected officer.
The Justice, however, agreed that defection from a winning party to a losing one is immoral and improper.
Ayade defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in May 2021 from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
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.
