Breaking: Court Sacks Ebonyi Governor, Deputy Over Defection From PDP To APCYour support matters. Sustain independent journalism in Nigeria – contribute to Legit.ng. A Federal High Court in Abuja has sacked Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state and his deputy, Eric Igwe, over defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Daily Trust reports that Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment on Tuesday, March 8, held that their defection was unconstitutional because the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the election on March 2019 and not its candidate. Having defected to the APC, Governor Umahi and his deputy cannot transfer the mandate of the PDP to the APC, the court held. Citing section 221 of the constitution, Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered the PDP to immediately send names of replacements to INEC to conduct fresh elections, Channels TV added. PAY ATTENTION: Subscribe to Digital Talk newsletter to receive must-know business stories and succeed BIG! Justice Ekwo also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cease recognising Umahi and Igwe as the governor and deputy governor of the Ebonyi State. Shortly after the governor and his deputy crossed over to the APC, the speaker and some lawmakers joined them. Ekwo ordered all the lawmakers who defected to vacate their seats in his ruling. The judge held that all salaries and allowances collected from the defection period to the present should be forfeited to the government coffers. Ahead of the general election, Ebonyi state governor, Engr. David Umahi has restated that his belief in God would help him realise his presidential ambition in 2023. Umahi made this known on Sunday, February 27, during a service at the new Government House Chapel, Ochoudo Centenary City, Abakaliki. He attended the service alongside his wife, Chief Rachel Umahi, and other top government functionaries. In a related development, a Federal High Court sitting in Gusau, the Zamfara state capital, has struck out a suit filed against Governor Bello Matawalle for defecting from the PDP to the APC. Recall that the governor of Zamfara state dumped the PDP for the APC in June 2021 after weeks of speculations and political intrigues. His decision to join the APC had angered some PDP chieftains, Bashir Saleh, Ibrahim Muhammed Turaki and Andulhamid Haruna, who proceeded to the court to seek his removal. Source: Legit.ng The court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Ebonyi State Governor and his deputy to vacate their seats as the sitting governor and deputy respectively over defection to the APC This judgement was given on the grounds that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the election in March 2019 and not its candidate Citing section 221 of the constitution, Justice Inyang Ekwo also ordered the PDP immediately send names of replacements to INEC for fresh elections to be conducted Your support matters. Sustain independent journalism in Nigeria – contribute to Legit.ng. Subscribe to Digital Talk newsletter to receive must-know business stories and succeed BIG!