Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has alleged that Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Abuja Federal High Court was misled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in his Tuesday’s ruling.

In his ruling, Mr Ekwo had removed the governor and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, for defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The blame is not on the judge. The blame is on the PDP lawyers who misled the judge,” Mr Umahi said while addressing members of the APC on Wednesday in Abakaliki.

Mr Umahi had on Tuesday attacked Justice Inyang Ekwo, accusing him of carrying out “hatchet job”. His outburst drew the ire of the Nigerian Bar Association, forcing his latest recoil.

He added, “I said the lawyers of PDP are the ones doing forum shopping and I’m going to report the lawyers to NBA to discipline them because the judge was misled.”

Mr Umahi noted that his administration had appealed the judgement on Wednesday. 

“Today, we have done three things; we have done the appeal at Enugu, and when I say that, we have two judgement, I say that the judgement in Ebonyi, which has equal powers with that of Abuja.

“We said that we will obey the judgement in Ebonyi; we will appeal the judgement of Abuja.

“We didn’t say we will disobey, otherwise we would have not appealed, we are before the Appeal Court in Enugu state and that of Abuja,” he said.

He also reiterated that he had no regrets dumping PDP which he accused of desperation.

“I have no regrets leaving PDP.  The judgement sacking me as your governor will not stand at appeal and I remain the governor as I’m still working.”