Why Ekweremadu's seat must be declared vacant - lawyer

A lawyer named Ogochukwu Onyema has petitioned the federal high court in Abuja to declare Ike Ekweremadu's seat as the senator for Enugu West void.

In 2019, Onyema ran for the job on the party's ticket but was defeated by the former deputy senate president.

Since July, Ekweremadu has been held captive in the UK.

The senator and his wife Beatrice are accused of conspiring to set up or aid another person's journey with the intention of exploitation, specifically organ harvesting.

The attorney requested that the court order PDP national chairman Iyorchia Ayu submit his name as a replacement in a lawsuit with the file number FHC/EN/CS/7/2022.

Onyema requested that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) revoke Ekweremadu's certificate of return.

Whether going by the heinous allegations leveled against the 3rd defendant and his incarceration at the United Kingdom, Wandsworth Prison, since around 22nd day of June 2022 up till the date of adoption of this Summons, the 3rd defendant can be said to have defaulted and be away from representing the plaintiff and Enugu West Senatorial District in the House of Senate, for no just cause, as provided for in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended in 2018.”

However, many are of the opinion that this is a back-door attempt to take over Ekweremadu's seat by his opponent. Senator Shehu Sani, in a tweet, offered support for the Senator, stating that his seat must not be declared vacant.

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