The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has submitted replacements for Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, following their removal from office by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday.
PDP appointed Iduma Igariwey, a member of the House of Representatives as the replacement for Umahi, while Fred Udogwu was appointed to take the place of Igwe.
Recall that on Tuesday, the court sacked the Ebonyi State Governor and his deputy following their defection from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress.
However, Umahi has remained defiant, saying he remains the Governor of the state despite the court order.
He urged the people of the state to remain calm as he was sure of quashing the ruling at the appeal court.
Umahi had defected from the PDP to the APC in November 2020.
After serving twice as deputy governor of the state, the sacked governor was elected in 2015 and 2019 on the platform of the PDP before dumping the party in November 2021.
He had attributed his defection to the party’s poor leadership and accused it of playing politics of bitterness and anger.
Ruling on the suit filed against Umahi and other members by the PDP, the judge, Inyang Ekwo ordered INEC to receive from the PDP names of persons to replace Umahi and his deputy, or in the alternative, conduct a fresh gubernatorial election in Ebonyi state in line with section 177 (c) of the 1999 constitution, as amended.
“The votes in any election in Nigeria are to political parties, and not candidates,” Ekwo said.
In a remark, the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu announced that the party has submitted the names of Igariwey and Udogwu as the new governor and deputy respectively to INEC as directed by the court.
He said, “We are happy to inform you that, to the position of governor, after due consultation with stakeholders in Ebonyi State, we are putting forward Honourable Iduma Igariwey as the new governor. For the position of the deputy Governor, Fred Udogwu.”
Meanwhile despite the court judgement, Umahi said he remains the governor of Ebonyi and faulted the position of the judge.
The sacked governor argued that the court lacked the powers to remove him as governor as he is covered by the immunity clause.
Umahi said, “There is no other provision that empowers a hatchet man to turn the constitution upside down. I have listened to the judgement of Ekwo and it is very obvious that he was on a mission. He was making all efforts to upturn the rulings of the Appeal and Supreme courts on issues like this which protects him (me) from any form of litigation that is not a pre-election and tribunal matter.”
