Court Reverses Judgment that Sacked Umahi as Governor

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reversed the judgment of a Federal High Court, that sacked Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi and his deputy, Eric Igwe, for defecting to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Delivering judgment, a three-member panel lead by Justice Haruna Tsanammi, held that the 1999 Constitution as amended, did not provide any punishment for a governor or deputy governor who defected from the party on which platform they got to office.

The appellate court noted that the only option opened to a political party, aggrieved by the defection of a governor is to explore the impeachment option provided in the Constitution.