A’ Court Upturns Judgement Sacking Gov Umahi, Deputy over Defection Alex Enumah in Abuja The Court of Appeal, Abuja yesterday overturned the judgement of a Federal High Court Abuja that ordered the removal of Mr. Da
The Court of Appeal, Abuja yesterday overturned the judgement of a Federal High Court Abuja that ordered the removal of Mr. David Umahi and Dr. Eric Igwe, as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State.
However, the appellate court in a unanimous decision held that there is no constitutional provision for the removal of a serving governor or deputy governor, who decamped from the political party that sponsored them to power. The trial court had held that “votes won or scored by a political party at an election are retained by the political party irrespective of the death or exit of the candidate it sponsored for the election, from the political party.”
Justice Ekwo similarly issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining APC from parading itself as the political party whose members occupy the offices of Governor and Deputy Governor respectively of Ebonyi State. They contended that the apex court had in its decision, held that no constitutional provision prohibited a sitting President or Vice President, and invariably, the Governor or Deputy Governor, from defecting to another political party.
“Section 221 of the Constitution is not to the effect that votes cast during the Governorship election of March 9, 2019 belonged to the 1st Respondent , but rather to the Appellants.