Hon. Leke Joseph Abejide, who represents Yagba East/West/Mopamuro Federal Constituency in Kogi State, has pushed back against a fresh attempt to remove him from his seat. The move is coming from two men who claim to be members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) but were earlier expelled from the party. The petition, submitted in Abuja, seeks to declare his mandate invalid, but his camp insists the challenge has no basis in law or party rules.
The lawmaker’s team reacted through a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Public Communications, Bashiru Abdul Mohammed, who argued that the petitioners, Kingsley Temitope Ogga and Adaji John Udale, lack the legal right to question Abejide’s position in the House of Representatives. According to him, both men were removed from the party at the ward level, with the decision later upheld by the local government, state, and national organs of the ADC. He said their attempt to revisit party matters after their expulsion amounts to acting without authority.
Mohammed added that the recent publication used by the petitioners to support their claims was designed to mislead the public and did not reflect the true situation within the party. He explained that anyone seeking the removal of a sitting lawmaker must rely on the Constitution, which clearly states the conditions under which a seat can be declared vacant. He pointed to Sections 68 and 109, which spell out the steps for both National Assembly and State Assembly positions.
He stated that the petitioners had little moral ground to rely on constitutional arguments when they themselves had failed to abide by party rules before their expulsion. He also reminded them that the ADC had gone through internal challenges at the national level, which raised questions about their attempts to reference constitutional provisions for political gain.
Mohammed warned that continued impersonation and public misrepresentation could attract legal consequences if the petitioners fail to stop. He expressed confidence that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, will dismiss the petition once it arrives before him.
He maintained that Abejide was re-elected in line with party rules and the Constitution, and that his mandate remains firm. According to him, the lawmaker’s supporters are ready to defend that mandate against any attempt to remove him through what they consider a baseless challenge.