Four leaders of the Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order for Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere to vacate his seat in the House of Representatives. They argue that his expulsion from the party means he no longer has the mandate to represent Ideato North and South Federal Constituency.
The PDP leaders—Austine Nwachukwu (Imo PDP Chairman), Thankgod Okeke (PDP Ideato North LGA Chairman), Agatha Onyejisi (PDP Ward Chairman, Umuopia/Umukegwu), and Carl Nwokoma (Imo PDP Vice Chairman/Orlu Zonal Chairman)—filed the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/358/2025, through their lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Johnson Usman.
They are asking the court to determine whether, under the Nigerian Constitution, a lawmaker who loses membership of the party that sponsored their election automatically forfeits their seat unless saved by specific legal exceptions.
Additionally, the plaintiffs are urging the court to declare Ugochinyere’s seat vacant and compel the Speaker of the House of Representatives to enforce the constitutional provisions that mandate such action. They also want the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a bye-election within 90 days to fill the position.
In an affidavit, Nwachukwu stated that Ugochinyere was expelled for alleged anti-party activities. He noted that the lawmaker ignored multiple invitations from the PDP’s disciplinary committee at his ward level before being suspended and subsequently expelled in 2024.
The case is yet to be assigned to a judge.
