Governor Nyesom Wike says he’s behind the ordeal of David Umahi, whose defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, informed a recent court judgement sacking him as governor of Ebonyi state.
Mr Wike who made the statement at the commissioning of the reconstructed 3.4km eastern bypass in Port Harcourt on Saturday also vowed to take the matter to the supreme court if the need arises.
“Governor Umahi, be rest assured that PDP will continue this matter down to Supreme Court,” vowed the Rivers state governor.
Noting that it was the first time the issue of defection would be contested in court, Mr Wike stressed that Mr Umahi’s political harlotry carried consequences that would serve as deterrence to other political office holders fond of defecting to other parties.
“Nobody has gone to court to seek interpretation of a governor who has defected from one party to the other,” Mr Wike said, adding that “This is the first time. And so it looks new to people and they ask whether you can remove a governor.”
According to the governor, “It is better for the court to make a pronouncement. Everybody will have to be careful.
“You give somebody an umbrella and the next day he defects. EFCC will come, he will say let me join them so EFCC will not go against me.
“You carry the vote of another party and join another party. Can you transfer votes? If you are defecting, leave the seat.
“And this will checkmate most of these political harlots who will never sit one place, looking for excuses here and there.
“You can’t take our property and say we should close our mouths. How can we close our mouths? And say those who are behind it. We are behind it.
“If your friends don’t want to tell you, me, I’m involved. So, nobody should threaten us. You are not our friend. You are not a member of our party. Leave what belongs to our party,” said Mr Wike.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court had on Tuesday removed the governor and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, for defecting to the ruling APC.
However, Mr Umahi on Thursday begged the court for a stay of exceution directing them to vacate their offices over their defection.
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