As the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), await decisions of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the various court rulings on the legal battle over the governorship seat of Ebonyi state, the State government has expressed hope that the nation’s election umpire would do the needful by ensuring that their decision on the Federal High Court ruling that sacked Governor David Umahi and his Deputy, Dr. Kelechi Igwe, do not destabilize the existing peace and political arrangement in the State.
INEC has been served with conflicting court judgment delivered over the defection of Governor Dave Umahi and his Deputy, Kelechi Igwe, from the PDP to APC
Ebonyi state Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji who stated this at the weekend in Abakaliki, argued that the emergence of a Governor has never been done through any form of political appointment but by-election.
“We have absolute hope that INEC will do the needful, that is to tell the whole world that these political and legal gimmicks cannot prevail until they have the judgment of the final court on the matter. They will also tell you that as far as the Governor has appealed the Federal High court ruling on time, the stay of execution is already a done deal and we can’t expect less.
“And because INEC is made up of very renowned statesmen, some of whom are lawyers, men who know what the law is.
“Even without being lawyers, I want to assure to you that in common sense, no institution, whether judiciary, whether INEC, whether any government, is meant to do anything that will tamper with the peace of any state, or with the security of any state or country, or with the safety of any state or country or with the welfare of the people.”
The Commissioner warned that the “appointment’ of Hon. Idu Igariwey as Governor of the State would not only create confusion in the political structure and arrangement of the State but also makes it dicey as to who becomes the next Governor of the State.INEC had earlier informed that it will take a decision this week on the court rulings on the Ebonyi governorship tussles, even as it noted that its legal department is currently analysing the over 10 court orders before I can take decision
