PDP nominee asks Umahi, deputy to vacate office.

.Says he has served INEC with court judgement.

.As gov files application for stay of execution

.Party fixes NEC meeting for March 15

 Jonas Ezeike, abuja

The member representing Afikpo North and South Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State in the House of Representatives Hon Igariwey Enwo Iduma has asked the Ebonyi State Governor Engr Dave Umahi and his deputy Dr Eric Kelechi Igwei to immediately vacate office following the ruling of the Federal High Court Abuja on their unlawful defection to the All Progressives Congress APC from the their former party Peoples’ Democratic Party PDP.

The lawmaker who addressed a press conference at the House Press Corps on the ruling of the court on Wednesday March 8, 2022 said that that the court has ordered Umahi and his deputy to vacate thier seats and restrained both of them from parading themselves as governor and deputy governor.

According to the lawmaker, apart from directing Governor Umahi and his deputy to vacate their offices, the court inter alia also directed INEC to immediately receive from the PDP the names of their nominees for the two exalted offices.

He further that from a clear and unambiguous order made by Justice Inyang Ekwo, it is an incontrovertible fact that Governor Umahi ceased to be the Governor of Ebonyi State on the 8th day of March 2022.

He said, “two days after this judgement Mr Umahi and his deputy still parade themselves as if they are still occupying those offices. This is to say the  very least, contemptuous of the clear orders of a court of competent jurisdiction

“We recognise the fact that the former governor David Umahi has a right of appeal. However, until the entire appeal process is exhausted, and in the absence of any order staying the operation of Justice Ekwo’s judgemen, Mr Umahi remains sacked, a former Governor, who should desist from any conduct that threatens the peace of Ebonyi State or diminishes over constitutional democracy”.

He berated Governor Umahi for his comments on the court judgement and  described his actions as incomprehensible incivility recalling how the state chief executive had running battles with press men covering the Ebonyi State Government House for some notable media outfits.

The lawmaker also thanked the Peoples Democratic Party PDP for the expeditious manner they had taken steps to give effect to the judgement of Justice Inyang Ekwo by submitting his name and  Igariwey Iduma Enwo and  Fred Udogu as Governor and deputy governor respectively to the INEC.

He informed journalists that he has personally submitted that federal high court judgement to the nation’s electoral umpire INEC for immediate issuance of Certificate of Return to the benfitiaries of the judgement.

He also called on all Ebonyi State people home and abroad to remain calm, peaceful and law abiding and also ask them to go about their normal livelihoods.

Other category of citizens of Ebonyi State including civil servants were asked to remain calm and the security agencies including the Police, Department of State Service DSS, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC were urged by the lawmaker to secure the state by protecting lives and properties of the citizens.