Powerful Southeast Governor Wins Appeal Against Sacking Judgment
- The sacking of Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state and his deputy has been reversed by an appeal court sitting in Abuja
- Justice Haruna Tsanami-led 3-man panel said that there is no punishment in the Nigeria constitution for governors and their deputies who decamped to another political party
- Governor Umahi and his deputy were sacked by a federal high court on March 8 for leaving the PDP and joining the APC
PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed!
FCT, ABuja - An appeal court in Abuja has reversed the decision of Justice Inyang Ekwo of the federal high court on March 8, sacking David Umahi, his deputy.
The Nation reported that the court sacked the duo for leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joining the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Source: Twitter
Is APC governor sacked?
But the appellate court on Friday, October 28, in a 3-man panel judgment, said that Nigeria’s constitution did not provide any punishment for any governor or deputy governor who left their parties and joined another party.
PAY ATTENTION: Share your outstanding story with our editors! Please reach us through info@corp.legit.ng!
Justice Haruna Tsanami of the appeal court posited that the only option opened to political parties not pleased by the defection of a governor or his deputy is to pursue the impeachment process as provided in the constitution.
The court of appeal’s decision is in line with an earlier decision taken on the same issue by the Enugu division of the court.
2023 Election: Wike, Ikpeazu enter fresh permutation with 2 powerful APC governors
Legit.ng earlier reported that the PDP crisis has taken a fresh path as governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state entered a closed-door meeting with 3 governors on Wednesday night.
The governors included a member of his camp, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state, and 2 from the ruling APC, Dave Umahi and Ben Ayade of Ebonyi and Cross Rivers state.
The details of the meeting were, however, not disclosed, but a source closer to the development said they entered into the closed-door meeting immediately after the governors arrived at Wike's country home in Port Harcourt.
A source who was closer to the development confirmed the arrival of the governors, adding that they quickly went into a closed-door meeting.
Source: Legit.ng
