The governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has said that he remains the governor of the state and will not vacate office for anyone, following his sack by the Federal High Court.

The Star had earlier reported that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, sacked Governor Umahi and his deputy, Dr. Eric Kelechi Igwe, following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The governor and his deputy were sacked by Justice Inyang Ekwo who delivered judgment that the 393,042 votes garnered by Umahi in the March 9, 2019 governorship election in Ebonyi State belonged to the PDP and same could not be legally transferred to the APC by the process of defection.

However, Umahi, in his reaction to the sack, accused Justice Ekwo of doing a hatchet job, adding that no one can remove him as the governor of Ebonyi State.

He stated that his legal team would appeal the judgment.

The governor, who described the judgment as a ‘sham’, assured his supporters and the people of the state that he would complete his mandate.

Umahi, who has since declared his intention to run for the presidency in 2023, said the sack by the Federal High Court will not affect his presidential ambition.

He said: “Nobody can remove me as the governor of the state as we know where the judgment came from.

READ ALSO: Court sacks Governor Umahi, deputy over defection

“Justice Ekwo has more than 10 cases against the state government and we will see where this leads him.

“We have petitioned Ekwo before the National Judicial Council (NJC) as his continued stay on the bench is a disaster for the country.

“People should not panic as I, the governor, is not distracted at all.”

The governor added: “The constitution stipulates that the only way a governor can be removed from office is through death, resignation or impeachment by the state House of Assembly.

“There is no constitutional provision that empowers a hatchet man to turn the constitution or law of the land on its head.

“The Supreme Court’s recent judgment on Zamfara among others attests to this fact as I remain the governor of the state,” Umahi said.

The judgment that sacked Umahi as governor followed a suit filed by the PDP before the court following his defection from the main opposition party.

The Star