The People of Ohaozara local government area of Ebonyi State, yesterday vowed that Chief Dave Umahi will remain in office till 2023 as the Governor of the state.
Ohaozara is where Umahi hails from.
The people said Umahi will continue in office and described the Abuja Federal High Court judgement which sacked him and his Deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe following the suit brought before the Court by the People's Democratic Party (PDP) over Umahi's defection to the APC as a distraction by the PDP.
The people who held solidarity rallies in support of Umahi said they will remain focused and undaunted despite the judgement and expressed the hope that the Appeal Court will do justice to the matter.
Speaking at the rally, the Chairman of the local government and Chairman Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state, Mrs Nkechinyere Iyioku called on the people of the area not to panic over the federal high court judgement but to continue to support Umahi as the Governor of the state.
"We say no to Facebook to Governor, we say no backyard Governor, we say no to Abuja Governor. Our Governor Engr. Chief David Umahi will be in office till May 29, 2023, and from there, we are moving to Abuja.
"We say no to distractors, they can never distract us because we are focused. We will continue to be focused. His excellency is focused and he will continue to be focused. Whether they like it or not, our Governor will complete his tenure. What we are solidly behind him and no man can truncate his administration", she said.
On his part, Principal Secretary to Umahi, Chief Emmanuel Obasi said "in 1999, Dr Sam Egwu became Governor and he governed the state for eight years. In 2007, Chief Martin Elechi became Governor and he governed Ebonyi for eight years. Our own Governor, Chief Dave Umahi will also govern for eight years. No amount of betrayal, no amount of secret meetings in Dubai, Port-Harcourt and anywhere can thwart his mandate."
