By Uthman Bagbansoro
Abuja – A Federal High Court in Abuja has removed Ebonyi State Governor, Mr Dave Umahi, and his Deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe, over their unlawful defection from the Peoples Democratic Party PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Justice Inyang Ekwo who made the order for their removal in a judgment on Tuesday ordered Umahi and his deputy to immediately stop holding themselves out as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State.
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.
Ekwo also held that the votes cast for PDP in the March 9, 2019 governorship election are not transferrable to the APC that failed in the election.
The court also in a separate judgement removed the Speaker of the state house of assembly and other lawmakers on the 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 seats.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, ordered the Speaker of the House of Assembly and his co-defectors to immediately stop parading themselves as members of Ebonyi State House of Assembly.
He held that the votes that brought them to office belonged to the PDP and that the legislators cannot hold on to the votes having elected to defect from the party that nominated them.
It also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing or according any recognition to them as elected members of the House of Assembly.
Ekwo ordered that all monies collected as salary and allowances from the day of their defection to the judgment date must be recovered from them.
