This is the response from Engr Umahi, the governor of Ebonyi state, who was fired by a federal court this week. To a large extent, he used the Zamfara state ruling to make his case that the court made a mistake. In the Zamfara state case, a federal judge had ruled that defection, from one party to another, was not a violation of the constitution of Nigeria.
But in the Ebony state case, a judge ruled that “The votes in any election in Nigeria are to political parties, and not candidates”. This is not a debate in a secondary school club; these are learned people interpreting the constitution of Nigeria.
“The constitution stipulates that the only way whereby a governor can vacate his seat is either by death, resignation or impeachment by the House of Assembly,” the Ebonyi governor said.
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“There is no other provision that empowers a hatchet man to turn the constitution upside down. I have listened to the judgement of Ekwo and it is very obvious that he was on a mission. He was making all efforts to upturn the rulings of the Appeal and Supreme courts on issues like this.
“We have heard the rumours before now that he was determined to give judgement against all known laws and the constitution to embarrass the APC and the federal government.
“For me, I do not feel worried but I feel so sorry for the judiciary. The executive may have problem, the legislature may have problem but the moment justice could be purchased, then we are in trouble in this country. And the ruling this afternoon is a clear evidence that this country is in trouble.
“I want you to disregard the judgement, it is null and void there is a subsisting judgement in Ebonyi and Zamfara states. So we have chosen the one to obey, we will not obey his ruling, we will obey the ruling of a competent court of coordinate jurisdiction that says you cannot sue a governor.
“The sections of the constitution are very clear, no civil or criminal proceedings could be brought against a sitting governor. This is not a pre-election matter, this is not a tribunal matter. So he has murdered justice in this country and he and his generation will be remembered for this jungle justice which has no leg to stand.
“I am still the governor of Ebonyi state and he has no powers to remove me,” Mr Umahi said
The governor of Ebonyi State has a big challenge ahead of him if his argument is to remind the court of precedent. In Nigeria, there is nothing like that, unfortunately. Yes, anything can happen and the citizens will move on. It happened in Imo State and everyone moved on. But one thing I like is that the judiciary is an equal opportunity confuser, and that means no human can accuse it of any political agenda!
The reward of the Imo state mess went to APC and if any paralysis happens in Ebonyi state, it goes to PDP. (Sure, Umahi is running for president. Some could argue this could be a hatchet job to throw him off-balance.)
Ex-governor Amaechi in Rivers state was not in the general election ballot but he was anointed a governor by the supreme court. So, under that precedent, all votes belong to the party!
Yet, when PPA governors began leaving for PDP, the party went to court; they lost those cases. Yes, Governor Ohakim did not lose his job for that defection. Every other ruling has followed that pattern (check Rochas Okorocha who left APGA to APC).
But Ebonyi is happening. Maybe the judges are tired of the other angle and want to see it from the other way. Good luck to law students.
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We used to know much about political thuggery, but we seem to have elevated our acts in judicial thuggery too.
Sometimes we artificially create confusions, just to distract the people from focusing on things that matter.
Our rulers have gone mad again.
The comments of the governor amounts to intimidation of the judiciary which is unacceptable. Casting aspersions on the person of justice ekwo Inyang is regrettable. Just twenty four hours later, the governor denied ever denigrating his lordship. May be he forgot that his outburst was on National television which was aired to the whole world. We don’t need people with this kind of temperament in high offices. You cannot not be making unguarded utterances and at the same time resorting to apologia. I think the governor should have exercised some restraint in his choice of words against the judge. He has appealed to the same judiciary to review the matter. What a shame.