As defections hit Nigerian political offices ahead of the 2023 general election, a federal high court in the Nigerian federal capital territory, Abuja, on Tuesday ruled in favor of the Nigerian opposition Peoples Democratic Party to sacked the Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr. David Umahi.
The honorable court has in its ruling declared that votes and the governorship and deputy seat in Ebonyi state, South-Eastern Nigeria belong to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and not the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).
Therefore, David Umahi and his deputy, Eric Kelechi Igwe, must vacate office as the 2019 election victory and votes cannot be transferred to another political party.
However, David Umahi argued that he is still the governor of the state and that the APC and his person will not back down from appealing the federal high court’s decision.
Upon receiving the information, the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) called for a world press conference in Abuja where they replaced the sacked Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, with Hon. Iduma Igariwey.
This was in accordance with the court’s order to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to receive a nomination from the PDP to replace the sacked David Umahi and/or hold a fresh governorship election, as provided in section 177 (c) of the amended 1999 Constitution.
The All Progressive Congress (APC) is in a leadership tussle where two factions from both Yobe state governor Mai Mala Buni and Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state lead factions are yet to comment on the development of the court ruling.
