Court Dismisses PDP’s Suit to Remove Abia House of Assembly Member

The Federal High Court in Umuahia has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that sought to declare the seat of Abia State House of Assembly member Dennis Chinwendu Roland, who represents Isiala Ngwa South Constituency, vacant.

The PDP brought the case after Roland defected from the party to the Labour Party in February 2025.

According to the PDP, Roland’s defection violated the 1999 Constitution, and the party requested that the court order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the seat vacant and hold a new election in Isiala Ngwa South.

INEC and the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly were joined in the suit as additional parties.

In his judgment, Justice S. B. Onu, who presided over the matter, rejected the PDP’s claims, citing a lack of diligent prosecution and the plaintiff’s lack of interest in pursuing the case.

Justice Onu noted that neither the plaintiff nor the defense appeared at the court’s last scheduled hearing, despite notices being served to all parties involved.

Roland, who represents Isiala Ngwa South, is a constituency of Governor Alex Otti.