The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has faulted the nomination of Mr Idu Igariwe and Chief Fred Udeogu by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to replace Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State and his Deputy, Chief Eric Kelechi-Igwe. 
This was contained in a statement issued by Austin Nweze, the SDP State Chairman, which he made available to journalists, Thursday in Abakaliki.
Recall that Senator Iyorchia Ayu, the PDP National Chairman had in a world press conference, Tuesday in Abuja directed the state chapter of the party to nominate Igariwey and Udogu to replace Governor Umahi and his deputy, respectively.
The directive was following the sack of the governor and his deputy by the Abuja Federal High Court over their defection to the APC.
According to the SDP, Igariwe, representing Afikpo North/Afikpo South Federal Constituency and Udogu, the former Caretaker Committee Chairman of the PDP did not participate in the 2019 governorship election.
The SDP said the recent directive by Ayu to Ebonyi State chapter of the PDP to nominate the duo to replace Umahi was unconstitutional and illegal.
The party argued that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should not issue certificates of returns to the nominees of the PDP as directed by the PDP National Chairman.
The statement noted that Igariwey and Udogu did not participate in the PDP primaries nor did they participate in the 2019 general elections.
"Section 141 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and other extant electoral laws provide that for a person to qualify to become a governor, he must have participated in all the electoral processes.
"The 1999 Constitution (as amended) also provides in very clear terms that for a candidate to become a governor, he must have participated in all stages of the elections.
"Both nominees did not take part in the 2019 governorship election in Ebonyi, hence are not qualified and as such INEC cannot issue any certificate of return to them," the statement said.
Nweze further stated that Umahi was the only governorship aspirant for the PDP who was subsequently nominated to fly the party's flag in the 2019 gubernatorial election in Ebonyi State.
"As a party that participated in the 2019 general elections in Ebonyi, we wish to state that Umahi was the sole contestant for the PDP primary for the governorship election and remains the qualified candidate," it added.
The party said that it had directed its lawyers to study the judgement that sacked Umahi as Ebonyi governor and his deputy for further actions.
"Our position, for now, is that both the INEC and the Ebonyi Chief Judge, Mr Elvis Ngene should not be dragged into the illegality of issuing certificates of return to the said persons and swearing-in of any nominees of the PDP," it added.
