YOU LACK POWER TO SACK ME — UMAHI TELLS COURT

REPORTER: AMECHI ODO

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State says he will not obey the judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja, which sacked him and his Deputy, Dr. Kelechi Igwe and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Francis Nwifuru, over their defection to the All Progressives Congress, (APC).

Reacting to the judgment delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo, Governor Umahi explained that there was no constitutional provision for a Governor to be so removed from office by a court unless on pre-election matter or by a tribunal.

He called on the people of the state to disregard the judgment as there was a subsisting ruling on a similar matter instituted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Zamfara State Governor.

“I want you to disregard the judgment, it is null and void, there is a subsisting judgment in Zamfara and there is also another one in Ebonyi State.

“So we have chosen the one to obey, we will not obey his ruling, we will obey the ruling of a competent court of equal level that says you cannot sue a Governor.

“The sections of the constitution are very clear, no civil or criminal proceedings can be brought against a sitting Governor.

“This is not a pre election matter, this is not a Tribunal matter. I am still the Governor,” Umahi insisted.

Governor Umahi emphasised that he would appeal the judgment and called on the National Judicial Council to look into the ruling with a view to ensuring that due process was followed.

“And in any case, he is being careful. He did not remove the Governor, he just say PDP should submit names and we know very well that if you did not participate as an individual in an election, Supreme Court has ruled that you cannot be declared a winner.

“So where is he going to manufacture the process whereby PDP will submit names or in the alternative they should do another Election, he lacks the powers to make such judgment,” he said.

Radio Nigeria observed that in spite of the judgment, the state was calm though some residents were curious to know what would happen next.