Dr. Eric Kelechi Igwe, the deputy governor of Ebonyi State, and Governor David Umahi were both sacked by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja today, March 8, as a result of their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, according to a statement.
This is because, according to the judgement, the complete number of 393, 042 votes received by Governor Umahi during the governorship election in Ebonyi state on March 9, 2019 belonged to the PDP and could not be legitimately transferred to the APC.
Both Umahi and his deputy, according to the court, abandoned not only the PDP but also the votes that belonged to it as a result of their decision to defect to the APC. Taking into consideration the outcome of the governorship election in Ebonyi state, the court determined that the offices of governor and deputy governor in the state "belong to the Plaintiff and no other political party."
"There is no provision in the Constitution that allows the ballot to be transferred from one political party to another."
Because both governor Umahi and his deputy were unable to lawfully transfer the votes and mandate provided to the PDP by the electorate in Ebonyi state, the court ruled that the PDP was obligated to retain its hold on the votes and mandate.
In light of this ruling, the court directed Umahi and Igwe to resign their positions immediately, and that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should immediately receive from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, names of candidates to replace Umahi and his Deputy, or, in the alternative, conduct a fresh governorship election in Ebonyi state in accordance with Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Aside from that, the court ordered that both Umahi and Igwe refrain from claiming any more positions of authority in the government of the Ebonyi state.
The ruling came as a result of a lawsuit filed by the PDP in the court of law.