PDP Nominates Igariwey To Replace Umahi As Ebonyi Governor

Following the ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday sacking Governor David Umahi and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, from office and pursuant to the order of the Court directing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to submit replacements for the duo, the opposition party has nominated the names of Hon. Iduma Igariwe as the new Governor and Mr. Fred Udogwu as the new deputy governor of Ebonyi State.

The national chairman of PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, at a press conference in Abuja, said the party has forwarded the names of the duo to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“We are also calling on INEC to immediately issue the Certificates of Return to the PDP nominees as replacement for Messrs Umahi and Igwe pursuant to the Order of the Honourable Court,” Ayu stated.

This comes hours after a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi and his Deputy, Eric Igwe, to vacate their seats as Governor and Deputy respectively, on grounds that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the election on March 2019 and not the candidates.

Delivering judgment on the matter on Tuesday, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that having defected to the APC, Governor Umahi, and his deputy cannot transfer the mandate of the PDP to their current party, the APC.

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He described their defection as illegal, null and unconstitutional.

Reacting to the judgment, Governor Umahi said Justice Ekwo lacked the power to remove him from office.