COURT DISMISSES SUIT CHALLENGING GOV UMAHI’S DEFECTION TO APC

REPORTER: AMECHI ODO

An Ebonyi State High Court, sitting in Abakaliki, has dismissed a suit challenging the defection of Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress, (APC).

The suit, that came in a way of originating summon for Governor Umahi to vacate office, was filed by Senator Soni Ogboji, who was the APC candidate in the last Governorship Election, praying the court to swear him in, having come second in the 2019 Election.

Delivering judgement on the matter, Justice Henry Njoku, ruled that having regard to section 188 sub section (1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, Governor Umahi did not offend any provisions of the constitution or the Electoral Act in his defection to APC.

The court further held that with regard to section 308 of the 1999 constitution, it was wrong to institute criminal or civil proceedings against the office of the Governor.

It therefore dismissed in its entirety, the suit filed by the plaintiff for lacking in merit and awarded #500,000.00 as damages against the plaintiff.