The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reversed the ruling which sacked Ebonyi Governor, David Umahi and his deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
WITHIN NIGERIA recalls that Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, sacked Umahi and Igwe on March 8 for unlawfully defecting from the PDP to the ruling APC.
The three-member panel of the appellate court held in a judgment on Friday held that the nation’s 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, Justice Haruna Tsanami, the appellate court held that the only option opened 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 aligned with an earlier decision on the same issue given by the court’s Enugu division.
Details shortly…
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