Socketing to centre is not a legal reason for defection – legal expert

Joseph Oloko, a Calabar-based legal expert, has stated that socketing to the center is not a valid cause for defection.

Oloko stated this in a Calabar interview in response to the country’s recent court injunction against desertion.

The legal expert also praised Justice Inyang Ekwo’s decision of the Abuja Federal High Court.

He stated unequivocally that the judge got it exactly correct and that the decision is inviolable.

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“Socketing to the center is not a legitimate justification for defection,” he says.

“The clause of Section 109 of the constitution comes into play when you desire to defect as a legislator.

“It explains how you must deviate.” There must be division at the national level of your party for it to succeed.

“At the time they defected, the PDP was a fairly calm, non-divisive party, and Uche Secondus, the national chairman, was performing well.”

“They indicated they were socketing to the center when they defected,” he continued, “but socketing to the center is not one of the prerequisites listed in Section 109 for defecting.”

“It is apparent that Justice Ekwo’s judgement is highly sacred,” he stated of the current Federal High Court verdict.

“People talk about Section 308, which grants immunity, and they bring up Atiku Abubakar’s case, but I’d like to explain how the immunity was obtained. Isn’t it the election that gave them immunity? He inquired.

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He further emphasized that the PDP as a whole has tens of thousands of members, and that although though one of them is the party’s leader, his rights are the same as those of any other member.