Breaking! Court Fires Gov. Umahi, Deputy From Ebonyi Govt. Over Defection To APC

Related stories

“Nigeria’s challenges not about the constitution, but its operators”, says Obasanjo

By Yanju Uwala A former Nigerian President and military Head...

Nigeria Surpasses OPEC’s 1.5 Million Barrel Oil Quota in June 2025

By Abiola Olawale In a major achievement for Africa’s largest...

Natasha vs Akpabio: Senate President Heads to Court, Challenges Court Order to Reinstate Senator

By Abiola Olawale President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio...

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered Ebonyi Governor Dave Umahi and his Deputy, Eric Kelechi Igwe, to vacate their positions immediately, saying the duo illegally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a judgement that was delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo, the Court held that the total number of 393,042 votes that was secured by Governor Umahi during the March 9, 2019 governorship election in Ebonyi state, belonged to the PDP and same could not be legally transferred to the APC.

Umahi and Igwe are deemed to have resigned their positions after defecting from the party on which they won the election, according to Justice Inyang Ekwo’s ruling.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was ordered by Justice Ekwo to accept the names of PDP members who vied against the duo to replace Umahi and Igwe and serve out the remainder of their terms, or to hold a fresh election to replace Umahi and Igwe.

The judge, among other things, barred Umahi and Igwe from presenting themselves as the Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State in the future. The ruling was based on the PDP’s lawsuit, which named INEC, APC, Umahi, and Igwe as defendants.

According to the court, having defected to the APC, both Umahi and his deputy, not only jettisoned the PDP, but also the votes that belonged to it.

It held that going by the outcome of the governorship election, the office of the governor and deputy governor in Ebonyi state, “belong to the Plaintiff and no other political party.

“There is no constitutional provision that made the ballot transferrable from one party to the other.”

It held that the PDP was bound to retain the votes and mandate that was given to it by electorate in Ebonyi State, as both governor Umahi and his Deputy could not validly transfer same to APC.

The court, therefore, ordered both Umahi and Igwe to immediately vacate their positions.

The judgement followed a suit the PDP lodged before the court.

Gbenga Ojo
Gbenga Ojo
Hamilton Nwosa is an experienced, and committed communication, business, administrative, data and research specialist . His deep knowledge of the intersection between communication, business, data, and journalism are quite profound. His passion for professional excellence remains the guiding principle of his work, and in the course of his career spanning sectors such as administration, tourism, business management, communication and journalism, Hamilton has won key awards. He is a delightful writer, researcher and data analyst. He loves team-work, problem-solving, organizational management, communication strategy, and enjoys travelling. He can be reached at: hamilton_68@yahoo.com

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

Latest stories

NDN
Latest News
Elderstatesman, Emeka Anyaoku, Speaks Again , Urges Nigeria to Adopt a "People’s Democratic Constitution""Nigeria's challenges not about the constitution, but its operators", says ObasanjoNigeria Surpasses OPEC’s 1.5 Million Barrel Oil Quota in June 2025Natasha vs Akpabio: Senate President Heads to Court, Challenges Court Order to Reinstate SenatorOluwo Commends Awujale's Burial, Says Late Monarchs Shouldn't Be "Butchered Like Animals"Alleged N6.9Billion Fraud: Drama as Ex-Governor Fayose Wins in CourtOgun PDP Knocks Dapo Abiodun, Backs Striking Workers: "Strike Action is lawful, a response to Abuse"[Full Letter] Atiku Abubakar Quits PDP, Signals Major Political Shift Ahead of 2027 ElectionsNational Grid Crisis: Six Universities, MTN, NDA, 16 Others Exit Grid, Resort to Own Power GenerationOgun PDP Knocks Dapo Abiodun, Backs Striking Workers: "Strike Action is lawful, a response to Abuse"Alleged N6.9Billion Fraud: Drama as Ex-Governor Fayose Wins in CourtOluwo Commends Awujale's Burial, Says Late Monarchs Shouldn't Be "Butchered Like Animals"Natasha vs Akpabio: Senate President Heads to Court, Challenges Court Order to Reinstate SenatorNigeria Surpasses OPEC’s 1.5 Million Barrel Oil Quota in June 2025"Nigeria's challenges not about the constitution, but its operators", says Obasanjo
X whatsapp