INEC Yet To Receive Official Copy Of Judgment Sacking Umahi, Others

 

By Zakaa Lazarus

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is yet to receive the certified true copy of the Abuja Federal High Court judgment which sacked Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi and his deputy over their defection to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi, revealed this on Wednesday, 9 March, 2022 in Abuja, stated that the commission would need to study the certified true copy of the verdict when served on it officially before it could take any decision on the matter.

INEC is under intense pleasure from the PDP which, interpreting the judgment as returning Ebonyi to it, had nominated a member of the House of Representative, Iduma Enwo Igariwey as governor and Mr. Fred Udeogu as deputy governor. In addition, the PDP had written to the commission to issue the duo a certificate of return so that they can be sworn in to lead Ebonyi.

Seventeen members of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly who defected with Umahi were also sacked by the same court judgment.

However, Umahi had since faulted his removal, saying he remained governor until the Supreme Court decided otherwise.

In a statement which many public analysts and lawyers had raised serious concern over, Umahi also accused the judge who delivered the verdict, Inyang Ekwo, of having been financially induced to deliver the judgment sacking him, his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, and the 17 legislators.

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