Court Verdict: Governor Umahi Finally Breaks Silence, Says Judge Lacks Power to Remove Him
- Earlier, a Federal High Court in Abuja sacked Governor Dave Umahi and his deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe on account of their unlawful defection from the PDP to the APC
- The court declared their defection as unconstitutional and ordered them to immediately vacate their offices
- But in reaction, Umahi disclosed that Justice Inyang Ekwo, the judge who delivered the ruling, lacks the power to remove him from office as governor of Ebonyi state
Governor David Umahi has reacted to the judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja that declared his seat and that of his Deputy, Kelechi Igwe, vacant.
Governor Umahi said Justice Inyang Ekwo lacks the power to remove him from office and has put the judiciary on trial, Channels TV reports.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had earlier approached the court, asking for Umahi’s removal after he defected from the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in November 2020.
Source: Facebook
The judgement
Citing section 221 of the constitution, Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered the PDP to immediately send names of replacements to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) so that fresh elections can be conducted, Daily Trust added.
Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through info@corp.legit.ng!
Justice Ekwo also ordered INEC to cease from recognising Umahi and Igwe as the governor and deputy governor of the Ebonyi State.
Delivering judgement in the case, the presiding judge, Justice ordered the governor and his deputy to vacate office, adding that their defection was illegal, null and unconstitutional.
Umahi performs groundbreaking construction of computer village estate
Ebonyi state government has performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a computer village estate at Uda Odeji, Abakaliki.
A statement by Francis Nwaze, the special assistant to the governor on media and publicity which was made available to Legit.ng, revealed that Governor David Nweze Umahi performed the groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, March 1.
In his remarks at the event, Umahi commended the Amike Aba and Ntezi Ava Villages for the donation of the land for the project.
Matawalle didn't violate constitution by defecting to APC, court rules
In a related development, a Federal High Court sitting in Gusau, the Zamfara state capital, has struck out a suit filed against Governor Bello Matawalle for defecting from the PDP to the APC.
Recall that the governor of Zamfara state dumped the PDP for the APC in June 2021 after weeks of speculations and political intrigues.
His decision to join the APC had angered some PDP chieftains, Bashir Saleh, Ibrahim Muhammed Turaki and Andulhamid Haruna, who proceeded to the court to seek his removal.
Source: Legit.ng
