Umahi to Know Fate as Governor as Court Fixes New Date For Judgment in Suit Seeking Sack Over Defection to APC
- Governor Umahi has been dragged by the Peoples Democratic Party recently over his defection to the ruling APC that occurred in 2020
- The main opposition PDP headed to court seeking the removal of the governor from office and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe over their move to the APC
- Meanwhile, the lawyer representing the governor insists Umahi's removal from office can only be pursued through the state house of assembly and the state high court
Governor Dave Umahi's defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) would be contested again by the Peoples Democratic Party, in the month of March.
This is so as the federal high court in Abuja has fixed Tuesday, March 8 and Monday, March 14 to deliver judgments in the multiple suits filed by the PDP seeking the removal of Umahi from office as governor of Ebonyi state.
The opposition party is also seeking the sack of Kelechi Igwe, deputy governor, from office on account of their defection to the APC, The Cable reports.
Source: Facebook
Umahi left the PDP in November 2020 attributing the action to the injustice done to the south-east.
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Inyang Ekwo, the judge, fixed the dates after counsel in the suits marked FHC/ABJ/CS/ 920/21 and FHC/ABJ/CS/ 1041/21 had adopted their briefs of arguments for and against the suit.
However, in their preliminary objection, the governor and his deputy through their lawyer, Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume, contested the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.
Ume argued that since Umahi was sworn-in by the chief judge of Ebonyi state and not by the chief judge of the federal high court, his removal from office can only be pursued through the state house of assembly and the state high court.
Other defendants in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC.
The governor's reaction
Umahi and his deputy have approached the Abuja court of appeal seeking interpretation of some constitutional issues arising from the suit filed by the PDP.
The applicants in their motion have requested the appellate court to restore the powers of state high courts as the only courts vested with the exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine the question as to whether the term of office of a member of the house of assembly of a state, a governor or deputy governor has ceased or become vacant.
2023: God spoke to me about running for president but did not tell me if I will win or not - Umahi
In a related development, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state, on Tuesday, January 11, said God spoke to him to run for president in 2023.
Umahi made this assertion, during a recent interview on a live television programme. He granted the interview a few hours after he declared his ambition to jostle for the APC's presidential ticket at the State House, Abuja, where he had met with President Muhammadu Buhari to intimate him of his plan.
The Ebonyi governor said it was God that directed him to declare his intention when he did but noted that God did not tell him if he will win the presidential election or not.
Igbo leaders endorse a candidate for president
In another report, Moses Ayom's ambition to be Nigeria's next president is getting a lot of support in the southeast and south-south region of the country.
Igbo leaders and traditional rulers in the region have also declared their support for the ambition of the astute entrepreneur.
Groups loyal to Ayom have continued their advocacy across the nation ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
Source: Legit.ng
