Breaking: Court removes Gov Umahi and his deputy over defection to APC

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, today March 8, sacked Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State and his Deputy, Dr Eric Kelechi Igwe, following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC.

The judge held that the total number of 393, 042 votes governor Umahi polled during the March 9, 2019 governorship election in Ebonyi state, belonged to the PDP and cannot be legally transferred to the APC.

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

The court further restrained both Umahi and Igwe from further parading themselves as governor or deputy governor of Ebonyi state.

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