Umahi’s defection to APC immoral but not unconstitutional, Appeal Court rules

The judge said that there were no express constitutional provisions for consequences on the defection of a governor or deputy governor to another party.

News Agency of Nigeria • April 1, 2022

David Umahi (Credit: Channels TV)

The Enugu Division of the Court of Appeal has upheld the defection of Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The court on Friday dismissed the appeal filed by Senator Sonni Ogbuoji and Mbam Ogodo, seeking to remove the governor and his deputy for having no locus standi in their bid.

In a lead judgment delivered by Justice J. O. K. Oyewole, the court held that the appellants lacked locus in their bid to supplant the respondents.

Mr Oyewole said that the defection of the governor and his deputy from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) might appear immoral.

He however held that the Constitution did not provide for their removal from office based on defection.

“Defection of elected executives is not novel in our political system but their removal must be in accordance with the constitution.

“The defection might appear immoral but they have freedom of association,” he said.

The judge said that there were no express constitutional provisions for consequences on the defection of a governor or deputy governor to another party.

He said that it was not the duty of the court to start making laws or inserting words in the express provision of the constitution.

The the appellants were the governorship candidate and the running mate respectively of the APC in the 2019 governorship election in the state.

It will be recalled that the respondents sometime in 2020 defected to the APC.

The appellants through their counsel, Ogbonnaya Okolie, approached a State High Court in Abakaliki and sought to remove Messrs Umahi and Igwe on grounds that they abandoned the platforms they won their election.

They had averred that Messrs Umahi and Igwe who were sponsored by the PDP in the election, by their actions, abandoned their seats and vote.

They sought the leave of the court to make declarations that would enable them to replace the respondents as governor and deputy governor, respectively.

However, the trial court dismissed their case for lacking in merit.

(NAN)

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