It is instructive to note that the sack of the lawmakers by Federal High Court, Abuja was for oining Gov Ben Ayade in June 2021 to defect to APC.

The affected members included 18 House of Assembly members and two House of Representatives members making them 20 in number.

On his part, the Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Cross River, Venatius Ikem Esq expressed satisfaction over the judgement which he described as heartwarming.

His words:” it is a very heartwarming judgement and we commend the Judiciary for upholding the tenets of democracy.

“This is the kind of judgment that can sanitise the entire political process and we welcome it wholeheartedly.

“For us, we have won the judgment and we shall follow the necessary judicial processes for them to vacate the seats and we shall also take steps to adequately replace them accordingly.

“For us, it’s to begin to prepare for replacement for those seats, we have to meet to take decision, it is imperative we replace all those who the court has vacated immediately,” he said.