Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sacked Governor DAVE UMAHI of Ebonyi State, together with his deputy, Kelechi Igwe.
Justice Ekwo took the decision because of the defection of Umahi and Igwe from the People’s Democratic Party PDP to the All Progressives Congress.
The trial judge declared that the action by the Ebonyi State governor and his deputy was unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void.
The judge ruled that the votes that brought both of them into office belonged to the PDP, cannot be transferred to the APC, which failed in the election.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, therefore, ordered both men to immediately vacate their offices, and to stop parading themselves as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State.
The Judge also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to accept names of persons from the PDP as replacement for governor and deputy governor.
However, if that is not possible, the Court ordered INEC to conduct a fresh governorship election in Ebonyi State in line with provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.