By Babatunde Odubanwo
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, March 8, 2021 sacked the incumbent Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi alongside his Deputy, Dr Eric Kelechi Igwe.
The ruling was delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo following the recent defection by the Ebonyi helmsman from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, held that the now-ousted Governor Umahi pulled a total number of 393, 042 votes during the last general elections held on March 9, 2019 as the candidate of the PDP and same could transferred to the APC under the electoral laws of the federation.
He then ordered that both Umahi and Igwe should immediately vacate their positions and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to immediately 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.