Dave Umahi

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David Umahi
Dave Umahi.jpg
Governor of Ebonyi State
Assumed office
29 May 2015
DeputyEric Kelechi Igwe
Preceded byMartin Elechi
Personal details
Born (1963-07-25) 25 July 1963 (age 58)
Uburu, Eastern Region, Nigeria
(now Uburu, Ohaozara, Ebonyi State)
Political partyAll Progressives Congress
Spouse(s)Rachael Umahi
RelationsAustin Umahi
ParentsJoseph Umahi Nwaze (father) Margaret Umahi (mother)
Alma mater

David Nweze Umahi (known popularly as Dave Umahi, born July 25th 1964) is a Nigerian politician who is serving as the current Governor of Ebonyi State, Nigeria.[1]

Early life and education[]

Born July 25, 1964, Umahi is the son of Elder Joseph Umahi Nwaze and Margaret Umahi of Umunaga, Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area, now in Ebonyi State.[2][3] Umahi received his secondary education from Ishiagu High School and the Government Secondary School of Afikpo before entering the Enugu State University of Science and Technology in 1982. He graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering[citation needed].

In 1990, he co-founded Norman Engineering and Construction Nig. Limited with Ombo Isokarari and served as its general manager until 1993.[2] Until 2011, he served as chairman and CEO of Brass Engineering & Construction Nig. Ltd.[citation needed], Focus Investment Nig. Ltd., and Osborn La Palm Royal Resort Ltd.[citation needed] He is from a home of nine comprising two females and seven males, including Major-General (Rtd.), the former chairman of the South-East Security Committee, Ebubeagu but resigned in May, [./2021https://thenationonlineng.net/breaking-umahi-resigns-as-chairman-southeast-security-committee/ 2021],[4] Roy Umahi Nwaeze, a legal practitioner, Austin Umahi Nweze who was the former national vice chairman of the People's Democratic Party, South-East zone,[5] among others.

Politics[]

Umahi entered public service in 2007 as the acting chairman of the Ebonyi State chapter of the People's Democratic Party.[6] From 2009 to 2011, he served as state chairman of the party. During that term, he served a year on the governing board of the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba as its chairman.[citation needed]

In 2011, Umahi became deputy governor of Ebonyi State on a ticket with the-then Governor Martin Elechi.[6] However, in 2014, Governor Elechi supported Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health, as his successor, which Umahi stated violated an understanding that he would take that role.[7][8] Umahi went ahead to defeat Chukwu in the primaries.[9] The remainder of Elechi's term was chaotic, with arson hitting the House of Assembly in February 2015 and motions taken to impeach him later that month over alleged unconstitutional gross misconduct, misappropriation of funds and anti-party activities.[10][11][12] Umahi was elected to the role of Governor on 12 April 2015 in an election that has been challenged by the Labour Party, All Progressives Congress and All Progressives Grand Alliance on the basis of "widespread irregularities, killings, and wanton destruction of property".[13][14] In October 2015, the legitimacy of the election was upheld by the Governorship Election Tribunal.[15]

On the 16th day of March, 2019, David Umahi was re-elected as Governor in the Ebonyi state governorship election. He polled 393,343 votes to defeat APC's Sonny Ogbuoji who polled 81,703 votes. [16]

Defection to the APC[]

On November 11, 2020 Governor Dave Umahi declared his intention to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) and on 17 November 2020 he officially defected to the party after a long time speculation. Umahi made his declaration of joining the APC for reasons according to him, one of them being that "the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has been unfair to the Southeast Geopolitical Zone" and secondly, "that it has being hijacked by one or two individuals". He also doused the speculation against him that he joined the APC because he wanted a presidential ticket which wasn't promised to him in the PDP by saying that he would quit politics in 2023 after leaving office as governor.[17]

President Muhammadu Buhari also congratulated Umahi for his defection to the APC, he described it as a bold step driven by principle rather than opportunistic moves or coercion[18][19]

Corruption allegations[]

On January 29, 2021, the Peoples Gazette reported that throughout Umahi's tenure as Deputy Governor and Governor, he had transferred more than ₦3.6 billion in government money to his company, Brass Engineering & Construction Nig. Ltd. Bank records showed the payments starting in 2011, when Umahi become Deputy Governor to Martin Elechi, and continued into his term as Governor.[20] In response, Umahi and an aide threatened Peoples Gazette reporters on phone calls[21] and the Peoples Gazette website was blocked,[22] before requesting a retraction and ₦1 billion as "atonement" from the newspaper.[23] After the paper stood by its story, Umahi sued the Peoples Gazette for defamation and demanded ₦2 billion in damages.[24]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Umahi wins Ebonyi governorship election". New Telegraph. April 12, 2015. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Founders". daveumahifoundation.com. Archived from the original on 2015-11-25. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  3. ^ "David Umahi: Nigerian governors mourn with Ebonyi state governor over mum's death". pulse.ng. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  4. ^ "Umahi resigns as chairman Southeast security committee | The Nation". Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics. 2021-06-07. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  5. ^ TODAY (2021-04-05). "2023: PDP, APC battle for the soul of Ebonyi". TODAY. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "The Biography of Egnr. Dave Umahi|ezumezu OHANIVO". www.ezumezuohanivo.com. Retrieved 2015-10-21.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Why Governor Elechi Lost Grip Of Ebonyi State Pdp | Nigerian News from Leadership News". Nigerian News from Leadership News. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  8. ^ "2015: Elechi, Anyim Turn Ebonyi into Battleground". 18 November 2014.
  9. ^ "Jonathan Wades Into Ebonyi Crisis, Summons Elechi, Anyim, Umahi | Nigerian News from Leadership News". Nigerian News from Leadership News. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  10. ^ "Ebonyi: Fiery meltdown! - Vanguard News". Vanguard News. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  11. ^ http://theadvocatengr.com/new/elechi-betrayed-his-vow-to-hand-over-to-me-ebonyi-dep-gov-alleges/
  12. ^ "Impeachment saga: Gov Elechi fights for survival | Newswatch Times". Newswatch Times. Archived from the original on 2015-11-25. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  13. ^ "PDP Candidate Dave Umahi Wins Ebonyi Guber Poll | Nigerian News from Leadership News". Nigerian News from Leadership News. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  14. ^ "PDP's Umahi Declared Winner Of Ebonyi Governorship Poll". Channels Television. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  15. ^ "Tribunal upholds Governor David Umahi's election - Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times Nigeria. 16 October 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  16. ^ "It's official: David Umahi wins Ebonyi governorship election". 10 March 2019.
  17. ^ "Why I dumped PDP for APC -- Umahi". 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
  18. ^ "President Buhari Praises Umahi's Defection, Says It Is Based On Principle Rather Than Coercion". Daily Concord News. 2020-11-18. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
  19. ^ "Buhari commends Umahi for defecting to APC | Premium Times Nigeria". 2020-11-18. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
  20. ^ Princewill, Nimi (29 January 2021). "EXCLUSIVE: Bank documents expose how Governor Umahi transferred billions to his company from Ebonyi treasury". Peoples Gazette. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  21. ^ Princewill, Nimi (30 January 2021). "AUDIO: Governor Umahi threatens to kill Peoples Gazette reporters over Ebonyi corruption story". Peoples Gazette. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  22. ^ "Nigerian news website Peoples Gazette blocked, threatened with legal action". Committee to Protect Journalists. 5 February 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  23. ^ Princewill, Nimi (2 February 2021). "Despite evidence, death threats, Governor Umahi moves to sue Peoples Gazette for N1 billion". Peoples Gazette. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  24. ^ Olokor, Friday (April 2021). "Umahi sues online newspaper for defamation, demands N2bn". The Punch. Retrieved 29 June 2021.

External links[]

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