The governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, and his Deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe have been removed from office on Tuesday.
The duo were sacked by a Federal High Court in Abuja
The court sacked the governor and his deputy on account of their unlawful defection from the Peoples Democratic Party PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
It barred the duo from parading themselves as governor and deputy.
The court declared their defection unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void and ordered them to immediately vacate their offices.
Justice Inyang Ekwo in a judgment on Tuesday ordered Umahi and his deputy to immediately stop holding themselves out as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State.
The judge held that the votes that brought them to office belonged to the PDP and cannot hold on to the votes having elected to jettison the party that nominated them.
Justice Ekwo also held that the votes cast for PDP in the March 9, 2019 governorship election are not transferrable to the APC that failed in the election.
The court ordered the governor and his deputy to immediately vacate their position while ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to receive the names of their replacement from the PDP or conduct a fresh Guber poll in line with section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
‘The option for Umahi and Igwe is to vacate office and wait for next election to contest under the platform of its new party, the court declared.
The court said the act of the APC, Umahi and his deputy is aimed at dismantling the 1999 Constitution.
Consequently, the court declared that under the democratic system operated in Nigeria, the plaintiff won the majority of votes during the election and is entitled to enjoy the same till the end of the tenure of office for which the election was made.
