The Enugu State Court of Appeal has overruled an Ebonyi State High Court judgement that ordered David Umahi and Kelehi Igwe to resign as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, respectively.
In a unanimous decision read by Justice Alfa Belgore on Friday, the appeal court rejected the case because it was inconsistent with the country’s Constitution and existing legislation.
According to Anaedoonline.ng, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji and his running companion, Justin Ogbodo Mbam, filed the action to have Umahi and Igwe removed from office following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in November 2020.
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Ogbuoji and Mbam were the APC candidate and running mate respectively for the 2019 governorship election in the state.
They wanted the court to sack the Governor and his Deputy by declaring their seats vacant and order their own installation but the Ebonyi State High Court ruled otherwise.
A cost of N500,000 was also awarded by the court against the plaintiffs in its ruling on February 28, 2022.
Not satisfied with the ruling, the plaintiffs appealed the decision.
But in a 37-minute judgement on Friday, the Court of Appeal agreed with the High Court’s position on the matter and struck out the case. Advertisement
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