Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi and his Deputy, Eric Kelechi Igwe have been ordered to immediately vacate their offices having unlawfully defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, who gave the order on Tuesday held that having defected from the party on which platform they won the election, Umahi and Igwe are deemed to have resigned their offices.
Justice Ekwo ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept from PDP names of its members to replace Umahi and Igwe, to serve out the remaining part of their tenure or, in the alternative, conduct a fresh election to replace Umahi and Igwe.
The judge, among others, restrained Umahi and Igwe from further holding themselves out or parading themselves as the Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State.
The judgment was on the suit filed by the PDP, with INEC, APC, Umahi and Igwe as defendants.
(THE NATION)
