Former Imo State governor and Senator representing Imo West, Rochas Okorocha has advised the Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi to respect the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja which asked him to vacate his office as governor of the southeast state.
A federal High Court in Abuja had on Tuesday, ordered Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State and the Deputy Governor, Dr Eric Igwe, to vacate their offices, after their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC).
The order was made on Tuesday by Justice Inyang Ekwo, who in the judgement described their defection as unconstitutional.
Justice Ekwo declared that having defected from the PDP, under which platform they came into power, to the APC, the duo were deemed to have resigned from the office and, hence, no longer entitled to be called the governor or deputy governor.
But Governor Umahi in his reaction dismissed the judgement as procured and vowed not to respect the Court ruling.
Speaking with newsmen on Wednesday at the APC national secretariat, Senator Okorocha said the judgment of a competent court of law must be respected.
He said the reaction of the Ebonyi State Governor was an affront to the judiciary.
He said: “Every pronouncement by the courts should be obeyed unless subjected to a superior court for appeal. In other words, where there is an appeal to a superior court on any matter, the lower court ceases to have authority over the matter. Nobody in this country should say he will not obey any court order. Section 287 of our constitution makes it clear that ‘every institution and organ of government should be obeyed but thank God for the ruling party, it has respect for the rule of law.
“First, it is assumed that the court order no matter what form and shape it takes must be obeyed but secondly you have an opening to go to the Court of Appeals to allow the superior court to suspend the judgement of the lower court. So you have obeyed if you tell the superior court to give you another hearing on the matter. It does not mean you have not obeyed the lower court but you give the superior court to re-hear the matter.”
Former Nasarawa state governor and aspirant for the office of national chairman, Senator Tanko Al Makura however said the judgment was nothing to worry about.
In a statement he personally signed, the former Nasarawa State governor said from his knowledge of the nation’s political history and several court rulings on the same matter, the People Democratic Party (PDP) lawsuit seeking to remove Umahi from office was an academic exercise, as the appellate courts would not waste time to upturn the ruling of the High Court.
He said: “The news of the court judgment came to me and other lovers of Nigeria’s democracy as a surprise, especially given that the courts, including the Supreme Court, had severally determined the position of the law concerning a governor, who decides to exercise his right to freedom of association.
“In any case, the good thing is that in envisaging situations as the Federal High Court judgment, the 1999 Constitution provides for a review of judicial orders by appellate courts to ensure that justice is not only done but is also seen to be done in every case.
“The PDP suit against Umahi, in the popular view, lacks merit, and will ultimately collapse and earn its deserved place as a reckless academic exercise.
“I stand in solidarity with Governor Dave Umahi, the people of Ebonyi State, and our great party. I support the Governor in every step taken to ensure judicial redresses on this matter.
“I equally call on him to remain unscathed and undistracted in the face of this onslaught, but to continue in the delivery of his widely acclaimed democracy dividends to the people of Ebonyi in particular, and Nigerians in general”.
The former governor of Nasarawa State wondered why the PDP should be aggrieved over Umahi’s decision to join forces with the progressives, noting that the PDP was not only the catalyst but also a major beneficiary of change of political platforms by elected political officeholders.
“The PDP lacks any moral grounds to contest Umahi’s decision to freely associate for the betterment of his people and Nigeria” the Senator, who represents Nasarawa South in the Senate stated.
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