The Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia has dismissed a case filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking to declare the seat of the member representing Isiala Ngwa South Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Dennis Chinwendu Roland, vacant.
The party had filed the suit following the defection of Roland from the PDP to the Labour Party in February 2025.
According to the PDP, the defection of the lawmaker from the party that sponsored him was in violation of the 1999 Constitution.
It prayed the court to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the seat of the lawmaker vacant and conduct a fresh election in the Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency to fill the seat.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly were the other parties joined in the suit.
But delivering the judgment, Justice S. B. Onu, who presided over the matter, dismissed the PDP’s prayers for lack of diligent prosecution and interest by the plaintiff in pursuing the matter.
Justice Onu ruled that the plaintiff and the defence failed to appear during the last court sitting despite notices issued to all parties involved in the matter.
The state lawmaker, Dennis Chinwendu Roland, represents Isiala Ngwa South, Governor Alex Otti’s constituency.
