House of Reps member Iduma Igariwey set to move into Ebonyi State government house

MEMBER of the Federal House of Representatives representing Afikpo North/Afikpo South constituency Hon Iduma Igariwey is getting set to move into Ebonyi State government house after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) sent his name to Nigeria's electoral commission.

Yesterday, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State and his deputy Eric Igwe have been sacked by an Abuja court after a judge ruled that their defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the PDP was illegal. In a judgement that was delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo, the court held that the total number of 393,042 votes Governor Umahi secured in the March 9, 2019 gubernatorial elections in Ebonyi State, belonged to the PDP and could not be legally transferred to the APC.

According to the court, having defected to the APC, both Governor Umahi and his deputy, not only jettisoned the PDP but also the votes that belonged to it. In his ruling, Justice Ekwo then ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec), to immediately receive from the PDP, names of persons to replace them or in the alternative, conduct a fresh gubernatorial election in Ebonyi State in line with section 177(c) of the 1999 constitution.

As a result, the PDP has forwarded Hon Igariwey's name to Inec as the replacement governor and Fred Udeogu as his deputy.  PDP national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, who appreciated the Nigerian judiciary for what he described as a landmark judgement, said the verdict will bring order in the political space and check the issue of political rascality and stolen mandates.

Mr Ayu said: “We also want to single out Justice Inyang Ekwo for special recognition, particularly for being courageous and forthright in going for the substance of the law rather than the technicalities. In line with the court order, the PDP is immediately submitting to Inec the names of our candidates for governor and deputy governor of Ebonyi State respectively.

“We are also calling on Inec to immediately issue the certificates of return to the PDP nominees as a replacement for Messrs Umahi and Igwe, pursuant to the order of the honourable court.”

He also called on the chief judge of Ebonyi State to immediately swear them in as soon as Inec issues the requisites certificates of return. Furthermore Mr Ayu also called on Inec to immediately withdraw the certificates of return from the 17 lawmakers who defected to the APC from the PDP along with Governor Umahi and commence the process of conducting bye-elections to replace them.