The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it has not received the certified copy of the judgment sacking David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi state, and his deputy.

Recall that on Tuesday, March 8, Justice Inyang Ekwo of a federal high court sitting in Abuja ordered the removal of Umahi and his deputy, Eric Igwe, over their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). According to the judge, the 393,042 votes polled by Umahi in the March 2019 governorship election belonged to the PDP and cannot be legally transferred to the APC. 

Reacting to the court’s ruling, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the chief press secretary to the INEC chairman, said the commission is yet to make a decision about the pronouncement of the court.

“As at the close of work yesterday, Tuesday 8th March, the Commission had not received the Certified True Copy of the judgment of the Federal High Court on the matter. It is only when this happens that the Commission will meet and take a decision”he said

Umahi had described the judgment as a “sham”, and accused Ekwo of doing a “hatchet job”.

“Nobody can remove me as the governor of the state as we know where the judgement came from,” he said at a press conference