The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has nominated Hon. Iduma Igariwe as the new Governor of Ebonyi State, awaiting the endorsement of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the PDP also nominated Mr. Fred Udogwu as the new Deputy Governor of the State in line with a court ruling sacking Dave Umahi and his Deputy, Mr Eric Kelechi-Igwe.
National Chairman of PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu made the announcement on Tuesday at the national headquarters of the PDP in Abuja after earlier declining to reveal the names of the nominees.
Ayu said that the decision was made after due consultation with party stakeholders at the national and Ebonyi State chapter, in compliance to Monday’s judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which sacked Umahi and Igwe for defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He called on INEC to immediately withdraw the Certificates of Return from Umahi and Igwe and immediately issue same to Igariwe and Udogwu.
Ayu appreciated the court judgement and the court, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, for the judgement, describing it as a landmark judgement.
“First, we want to appreciate the Nigerian Judiciary for this landmark judgement. The ruling will bring order in the political space and check the issue of political rascality and stolen mandates. The judiciary is indeed the backbone of this democracy.
“We also want to single out Justice Ekwo for special recognition, particularly for being courageous and forthright in going for the substance of the law rather than the technicalities.
“And in line with the court order, PDP is immediately submitting to INEC the names of our candidates for Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi state respectively.
“We are happy to inform you that for the position of Governor, the party after due consultation with stakeholders in Ebonyi State is putting forward Hon Iduma Igariwe as the new Governor.
“For the position of Deputy Governor, the party is putting forward Mr Fred Udogwu. Just to repeat, for Governor, Hon Iduma Igariwe; for Deputy Governor, Mr Fred Udogwu.
“Furthermore, we call on the Chief Judge of Ebonyi state to immediately swear them in as soon as INEC issues the Certificates of Return.
“And lastly, we call on INEC to immediately withdraw the Certificates of Return from the 17 lawmakers and commence the process of conducting bye-elections to replace them.”
Ayu noted that in the same ruling, the court sacked the 17 members of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly who also defected with the governor and his deputy to the APC.
He recalled that Umahi, his deputy and the 17 lawmakers were elected on the PDP platform in 2015 and again in 2019, but defected to the APC on November 17, 2020, citing “injustice done to the South-East.”
“And determined to reclaim our stolen mandates, the PDP had sued them and joined both the APC and INEC in the suit.
“We had prayed the court to declare that by defecting from the PDP, on whose platform they were sponsored and elected, Umahi, Igwe and the 17 lawmakers had resigned or deemed to have resigned from office on the day of their defections.”
He said that the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, gave the PDP and democracy justice today.
A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, ordered Gov. Umahi to vacate office after his defection from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Justice Ekwo, in the judgment, also ordered Dr Eric Igwe to stop parading himself as deputy governor of the state.
Justice Ekwo declared that having defected from the PDP, under which platform they came into power, the duo are deemed to have resigned from the office and, hence, no longer entitled to be called governor and deputy governor.
The judge said it was constitutionally wrong for a candidate elected into an office on a platform of a political party to defect to another political while still holding office.
He said the votes gotten by Umahi and Igwe on March 9, 2019, were PDP votes and not for APC.
Umahi, in his reaction, said that he remains the govenor of the state and will not vacate office for anyone.
Umahi, who described the judgement as a ‘sham’, accused the Presiding Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, of doing a hatchet job.