Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State
Ebonyi DC Coordinators ‘not satisfied’ with Justice Ekwo’s ruling sacking Umahi
[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]
64 Coordinators of Development Centers in Ebonyi State on Tuesday expressed their dissatisfaction over the judgement of the Abuja Federal High Court which sacked Governor David Umahi and his deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe, from office.
The Court on March 8, 2022, sacked Umahi and his deputy, for defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Coordinators under the aegis of Forum of Coordinators of the Development Centre, who made their position known while briefing Journalists, at the old State Executive Chambers, Abakaliki, said it was surprising and shocking that Justice Ekwo in his ruling, ordered that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) should submit to INEC, names of people who never stood for elections to be sworn-in as Governor and Deputy, respectively, in place of a duly elected Governor and his Deputy.
Chairman of the Forum, Hon. Beatrice Eze, who spoke on behalf of the Coordinators, urged the Court of Appeal to immediately rise to protect the sanctity of our constitution by upturning Ekwo’s judgement, so as to avert the danger the judgement was capable of imposing on the Nigeria’s hard-earned democracy.
The Forum while expressing confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary, was upbeat that Justice Ekwo’s judgement would be reversed by the Court of Appeal, saying, “we are confident in the impartiality of the Judiciary, the reason for which they said judgement has been appropriately appealed; again, proving that Governor Umahi is an ardent respecter of the law and legal frameworks.
The Forum maintained that Governor Umahi would remain the Governor of Ebonyi State till 2023, noting “his defection to APC has not offended any portion or section of the Constitution or extant laws.”
According to them, no amount of distraction from the enemies, especially from those, having malaria dreams of taking over the office of the Governor and his deputy, through the backdoor, would stop the accomplishment of Governor Umahi’s 2023 presidential ambition.
“Your Excellency, your party is our party, your next move, your glorious and triumphant entry into Aso Rock come 2023 is our collective mission which must be accomplished and this distraction from the enemies of the ‘New Ebonyi State’ which you birthed and nurtured will certainly not hold water but will end in praise as their move to get enthroned into the seat of power through the back door is an evidence of their disconnection with the grassroots.
“Your Excellency, you have given Ebonyi a new song through your people oriented polices and programmes, evident in your giant developmental strides for which our unflinching support has come to stay with you as we can’t afford to “sing the Lord’s song in a strange land. We hereby advise those who wish to fight Governor David Umahi, to first of all, read about David in the Bible,” the Forum noted.
The Forum further hailed the courage of many Nigerians who, according to them, spoke against the judgement, adding, “we assure these set of patriotic Nigerians that this honor and sense of nobility done by speaking out won’t be abused.”
