Defection: Ebonyi SDP Guber Candidate Joins Umahi’s Appeal Suit

Social Democratic Party (SDP) gubernatorial candidate in the 2019 governorship election in Ebonyi State, Chief Ndubuisi Chibueze-Agbo says he will approach the Appeal Court seeking to join the defection suit against Governor David Umahi.

Mr Chibueze-Agbo in a statement said that he is the rightful person to replace Governor David Umahi and not Idu Igariwey of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Justice Inyang Ekwo in a judgement on 8th March ordered the sack of Umahi and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe for defecting to be the All Progressive Congress (APC) from the PDP.

The court also ordered INEC to issue certificate of return to two nominees of the PDP to replace Umahi and Igwe.

But Agbo, a former Commissioner for Education in the state, claimed that the PDP nominees, Igariwey and Fred Udeogu, were not qualified to become Governor and Deputy Governor as they did not participate in the 2019 governorship election.

The SDP candidate, who disclosed that he came third in the 2019 election, added that Senator Sunny Ogbuorji of the APC who came second in the election should stop angling to be declared Governor because according to him the court had disqualified him.

He claimed Ogbuorji was disqualified because he failed to meet other mandatory criteria and qualifications as provided by the Constitution.

He therefore asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue him and his Deputy, Mr. Iheanacho Nwugo, Certificate of Returns to enable them to be sworn in as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi state.

Mr Agbo said he has therefore concluded arrangements with his Lawyers and will be approaching the Appeal Court to be joined in the Umahi Vs PDP suit, and to pray the appellate court to declare him the rightful beneficiary of the judgement.