A Federal High Court in Abuja has sacked Ebonyi State Governor, Mr Dave Umahi, and his Deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe, on account of their unlawful defection from the Peoples Democratic Party PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The court declared their defection unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void and ordered them to immediately vacate their offices.
The judgement, delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo, held that the total number of 393,042 votes Umahi secured at the 9th March 2019 Ebonyi State governorship election, belonged to the PDP, hence could not be legally transferred to the APC.
The court noted that both Umahi and his Igwe’s defection to the APC, not only threw out the PDP, but also the votes that belonged to it.
The judge held that the votes that brought them to office belonged to the PDP and cannot hold on to the votes having elected to jettison the party that nominated them.
Justice Inyang Ekwo in a judgment on Tuesday ordered Umahi and his deputy to immediately stop holding themselves out as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State.
Details shortly.
