The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, that sacked Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi and his deputy, Dr. Eric Kelechi Igwe, for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In his judgment delivered on 8 March, 2022, Justice Inyang Ekwo, held that 393, 042 votes Governor Umahi secured during the 9 March, 2019 governorship election belonged to the PDP and same could not be legally transferred to the APC.
But the Appeal Court in its judgement yesterday held that the 1999 Constitution did not provide any punishment for a Governor or Deputy Governor who defected from the party on which platform he/she got to office.
In the lead judgment of the appellate court, Justice Haruna Tsanami, held that the only option open to a political party aggrieved by the defection of a Governor or Deputy Governor is to explore the impeachment option provided in the Constitution.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja thereafter, aligned with an earlier decision on the same issue given by the court’s Enugu division, Leadership reports.