By Correspondent in Abuja.
Following the Federal High Court in judgement in Abuja which sacked the Ebony Governor, Mr Dave Umahi, and his Deputy, Dr Kelechi Igw on Tuesday on account of unlawful defection from PDP to APC, the PDP on Tuesday forwarded the names of Hon. Iduma Igariwey as governor nominee and Fred Udogwu,deputy nominee respectively to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The PDP National Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu,who disclosed the names at a news conference in Abuja, said the party took the decision after due consultation with party stakeholders at the national and Ebonyi State chapter in compliance to the judgment of the Federal High Court Abuja which sacked Umahi and Igwe for unlawful defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He called on INEC to immediately withdraw the Certificates of Return from Umahi and Igwe and immediately issue same to Igariwey and Udogwu.
Ayu expressed delight over court judgement and the court, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, for the judgement, describing it as landmark judgement.
Ayu commended the Judiciary for the landmark judgement, adding that it would bring order in the political space and check the issue of political rascality as well as stolen mandates, pointing out that the “judiciary is indeed the backbone of democracy”.
“We also want to single out Justice Ekwo for special recognition, particularly for being courageous and forthright in going for the substance of the law rather than the technicalities.
“And in line with the court order, PDP is immediately submitting to INEC, the names of our candidates for Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi state respectively.
“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.
“Furthermore, we call on the Chief Judge of Ebonyi state to immediately swear them in as soon as INEC issues the requisites Certificates of Return.
The PDP national chairman also called on INEC to immediately withdraw the Certificates of Return from the 17 lawmakers and commence the process of conducting bye-elections to replace them.”
Ayu noted that in the same ruling, the court sacked the 17 members of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly who also defected with the governor and his deputy into the APC.
He recalled that Gov. Umahi, his deputy and the 17 lawmakers were elected on the PDP platform in 2015 and again in 2019, but defected to the APC on November 17, 2020, citing “injustice done to the South-East.”
“And determined to reclaim our stolen mandates, the PDP had sued them and joined both the APC and INEC in the suit.
“We had prayed the court to declare that by defecting from the PDP, on whose platform they were sponsored and elected, Umahi, Igwe and the 17 lawmakers had resigned or deemed to have resigned from office on the day of their defections.”
The court said that the defection of the governor and his deputy was unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void and ordered them to immediately leave their offices and stop holding themselves out as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State.
Justice Ekwo, in a judgment, also ordered Dr Eric Igwe to stop parading himself as deputy governor of the state.
Justice Ekwo declared that having defected from the PDP, under which platform they came into power, the duo were deemed to have resigned from the office and, hence, no longer entitled to be called governor and deputy governor.
He said it was constitutionally wrong for a candidate elected into an office on a platform of a political party to defect to another political while still holding office, adding that the votes got by Umahi and Igwe on March 9, 2019 were PDP votes and not APC.
Meanwhile, in his reaction,Umahi described the the judgment as sham, saying said that he remained the governor of the state, adding that he would not vacate his office for aanyon.
