A group of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in Imo State has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to unseat Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere from the House of Representatives following his expulsion from the party.
The suit, filed by their lawyer, Johnson Usman (SAN), argues that Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato North and South Federal Constituency, should lose his seat in the National Assembly since he is no longer a PDP member.
The plaintiffs also demand that he refund all salaries, allowances, and emoluments received since his expulsion.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/358/2025, was filed on February 27 and names Ugochinyere, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the PDP, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.
The plaintiffs—Imo PDP Chairman Austine Nwachukwu, Ideato North PDP Chairman Thankgod Okeke, Umuopia/Umukegwu Ward PDP Chairman Agatha Onyejisi, and Imo PDP Vice Chairman Carl Nwokoma—argue that Sections 65(2)(b) and 68(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution automatically disqualify Ugochinyere from holding his seat since he has lost his party membership.
They also insist that the Speaker of the House has a constitutional duty to declare the seat vacant and request INEC to conduct a bye-election within 90 days.
According to Nwachukwu’s affidavit, Ugochinyere was expelled due to alleged anti-party activities.
He was reportedly invited to appear before the PDP Disciplinary Committee twice in late 2024 but failed to do so.
Following his absence, his ward suspended him on October 14, 2024.
The suit is yet to be assigned to a judge.
