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David Umahi

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David Umahi
CON
Minister of Works
Incumbent
Assumed office
21 August 2023
PresidentBola Tinubu
Preceded byBabatunde Fashola
Senator for Ebonyi South
In office
13 June 2023 – August 2023
Preceded byMichael Ama Nnachi
Succeeded byAnthony Okorie Ani
Governor of Ebonyi State
In office
29 May 2015 – 29 May 2023
DeputyEric Kelechi Igwe
Preceded byMartin Elechi
Succeeded byFrancis Nwifuru
Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State
In office
29 May 2011 – 29 May 2015
GovernorMartin Elechi
Succeeded byEric Kelechi Igwe
Personal details
Born
David Nweze Umahi

(1963-07-25) 25 July 1963 (age 61)
Uburu, Eastern Region (now in Ebonyi State), Nigeria
Political partyAll Progressives Congress
SpouseRachael Umahi
RelationsAustin Umahi
Parents
  • Joseph Umahi Nwaze (father)
  • Margaret Umahi (mother)
Alma mater
OccupationPolitician

David Nweze Umahi CON (born 25 July 1963) is a Nigerian politician who serves as the minister of works of Nigeria. He previously served as the senator representing Ebonyi South senatorial district from June to August 2023, and as the governor of Ebonyi State from 2015 to 2023; and deputy governor from 2011 to 2015.[1][2]

On 16 August 2023, President Bola Tinubu appointed him as minister of works following his nomination, screening and approval by the senate.[3] He was sworn into office on 21 August 2023.

Early life and education

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Umahi was born on 25 July 1964. He is the son of Elder Joseph Umahi Nwaze and Margaret Umahi of Umunaga, Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area, now in Ebonyi State.[4][5] 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.[6]

In 1990, he co-founded Norman Engineering and Construction Nig. Limited with Ombo Isokarari and served as its general manager until 1993.[4] Until 2011, he served as chairman and CEO of Brass Engineering & Construction Nig. Ltd.,[7] Focus Investment Nig. Ltd., and Osborn La Palm Royal Resort Ltd.[8] He is from a home of nine comprising two females and seven males, including Major-General Obi Abel Umahi (Rtd.),[9] the former chairman of the South-East Security Committee, Ebubeagu but resigned in May 2021.[10] Roy Umahi Nwaeze, a legal practitioner,[11] Austin Umahi Nweze who was the former south east vice chairman of the People's Democratic Party.[12][13]

Politics

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Umahi entered public service in 2007 as the acting chairman of the Ebonyi State chapter of the People's Democratic Party.[14] 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.[15]

In 2011, Umahi became the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State on a ticket with the-then Governor Martin Elechi.[14] 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.[16][17] Umahi went ahead to defeat Chukwu in the primaries.[18] 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.[19]

Umahi was elected to the role of Governor on 12 April 2015 on the platform of People's Democratic Party (PDP).[20] The election was later 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".[21][22] In October 2015, the legitimacy of the election was upheld by the Governorship Election Tribunal.[23]

On the 16 March 2019, 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.[24] Umahi won APC Ebonyi South Senatorial district elections in 2022.[25]

Defection to the APC

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On 11 November 2020 Umahi declared his intention to join the All Progressives Congress 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 has been unfair to the Southeast Geopolitical Zone..." and secondly, "...that it has been 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.[26]

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[27][28]

On 11 January 2022 Umahi declared his intention to run for the office of the President of Nigeria in the 2023 general elections after consulting with President Muhammadu Buhari just days after the declaration of a leader in the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This conflicts with his earlier statement when he defected to the APC that he would quit politics after his tenure as governor.[29]

On 8 March 2022 Umahi and his deputy Eric Kelechi Igwe were sacked as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State respectively by the Federal High Court in Abuja for defecting to the All Progressives Congress while in office. The court said that the popular votes given to Umahi belonged to the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and by defecting from the party the office ceases to be theirs. The court immediately ordered the PDP to submit the name of their gubernatorial candidate to INEC or for a fresh gubernatorial election to be conducted in Ebonyi State.[21][1][2] On 11 March 2022, the State High Court granted Umahi and his Deputy Eric Kelechi Igwe interim of seven days in office.[30][31] On 1 April 2022, The Court of Appeal in Enugu State affirmed Umahi as Governor of Ebonyi State, saying his defection to the APC was immoral but not unconstitutional while affirming an earlier judgement by the Federal High Court in Ebonyi.[32] However the grounds for the sack of Umahi by the Federal High Court in Abuja is different from the Federal High Court in Ebonyi. The Court of Appeal in Abuja is yet to hear the appeal of the judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Corruption allegations

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On 29 January 2021, 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 Nigeria Limited. Bank records showed the payments starting in 2011, when Umahi became deputy governor to Martin Elechi, and continued into his term as governor.[33] In response, Umahi and an aide threatened Peoples Gazette reporters on phone calls[34] and the Peoples Gazette website was blocked,[35] before requesting a retraction and ₦1 billion as "atonement" from the newspaper.[36] After the paper stood by its story, Umahi sued the Peoples Gazette for defamation and demanded ₦2 billion in damages.[37]

Personal life

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Dave Umahi is married to Rachael Umahi.[38] She is the daughter of Mr and Mrs Chukwu and Eunice Akpa of Umuobuna, Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Award

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In October 2022, a Nigerian national honour of Commander Of The Order Of The Niger (CON) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.[39]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Banjo, Noah (8 March 2022). "BREAKING: Court sacks Umahi, deputy over defection to APC". The Punch. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b Olabimtan, Bolanle (8 March 2022). "Breaking: Court sacks Umahi, deputy over defection to APC". TheCable. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  3. ^ Tolu-Kolawole, Deborah (16 August 2023). "Breaking: Tinubu appoints Wike Minister of FCT, Umahi, Minister of Works". The Punch. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Founders". daveumahifoundation.com. Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  5. ^ Dada, Gbenga (10 October 2015). "David Umahi: Nigerian governors mourn with Ebonyi state governor over mum's death". Pulse. Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  6. ^ "Apostle Umahi The Shining Star Of Nigerian Politics & His Remarkable Feats". Africa Prime News. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Apostle Umahi The Shining Star Of Nigerian Politics & His Remarkable Feats". Africa Prime News. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Apostle Umahi The Shining Star Of Nigerian Politics & His Remarkable Feats". Africa Prime News. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  9. ^ Sahara Reporters (25 October 2021). "How Ebonyi Governor's Brother, Retired Maj. Gen. Umahi Tortured, Executed Ken Saro-Wiwa, 8 Other Ogoni Activists". Sahara Reporters. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  10. ^ Duruiheoma, Damian (7 June 2021). "Umahi resigns as chairman Southeast security committee". The Nation. Enugu. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  11. ^ Aliuna, Godwin (4 March 2022). "Ebonyi: PDP, Umahi's brother in war of words over High Court's judgement". Daily Post. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  12. ^ Njoku, Lawrence (31 August 2016). "EFCC arrests governor brother, others over alleged N400m campaign funds". The Guardian. Enugu. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  13. ^ Akpa, Nnamdi (25 July 2018). "Buhari's days are numbered, says South East PDP vice chairman". The Guardian. Abakaliki. Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  14. ^ a b "The Biography of Egnr. Dave Umahi". www.ezumezuohanivo.com. Retrieved 21 October 2015.[permanent dead link‍]
  15. ^ "Apostle Umahi The Shining Star Of Nigerian Politics & His Remarkable Feats". Africa Prime News. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  16. ^ Agbo, Dennis (31 December 2014). "Lessons from Elechi's loss of Ebonyi PDP". The Nation. Enugu. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  17. ^ Okutu, Peter (20 July 2014). "2015: The Battle for Ebonyi". Vanguard. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  18. ^ Archibong, Elizabeth (4 March 2015). "Ebonyi PDP crisis: Jonathan meets Elechi, Umahi, others". Business Day. Abuja. Archived from the original on 15 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  19. ^ Okutu, Peter (25 February 2015). "Ebonyi: Fiery meltdown!". Vanguard. Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  20. ^ Ugwueze, Emmanuel (15 April 2015). "Ebonyi Labour Party rejects poll results, moves to tribunal". Daily Post. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  21. ^ a b Okutu, Peter (12 April 2015). "INEC declares Umahi winner of Ebonyi governorship election". Vanguard. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  22. ^ "PDP's Umahi Declared Winner Of Ebonyi Governorship Poll". Channels TV. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  23. ^ Eze, James (16 October 2015). "Tribunal upholds Governor David Umahi's election - Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  24. ^ Eze, James (10 March 2019). "It's official: David Umahi wins Ebonyi governorship election". Premium Times. Archived from the original on 11 March 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  25. ^ Royal, David O. (1 August 2022). "Umahi wins APC Ebonyi South Senatorial district fresh election". Vanguard. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  26. ^ Eze, James (17 November 2020). "Why I dumped PDP for APC -- Umahi". Premium Times. Archived from the original on 17 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  27. ^ Adebayo, Daniel (18 November 2020). "President Buhari Praises Umahi's Defection, Says It Is Based On Principle Rather Than Coercion". Daily Concord News. Archived from the original on 18 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  28. ^ "Buhari commends Umahi for defecting to APC". Premium Times. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 18 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  29. ^ Ume-Ezeoke, Gloria (11 January 2022). "David Umahi Declares Interest To Run For President In 2023". Channels TV. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  30. ^ Olabimtan, Bolanle (11 March 2022). "Ebonyi court grants Umahi, deputy permission to remain in office for 7 days". TheCable. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  31. ^ "Ebonyi State High Court Reaffirms Earlier Judgement On Umahi, Deputy". Channels TV. 11 March 2022. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  32. ^ "Appeal Court upholds defection of Gov Umahi, deputy". Vanguard. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  33. ^ Princewill, Nimi (29 January 2021). "Exclusive: Bank documents expose how Governor Umahi transferred billions to his company from Ebonyi treasury". Peoples Gazette. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  34. ^ Princewill, Nimi (30 January 2021). "Audio: Governor Umahi threatens to kill Peoples Gazette reporters over Ebonyi corruption story". Peoples Gazette. Archived from the original on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  35. ^ "Nigerian news website Peoples Gazette blocked, threatened with legal action". Committee to Protect Journalists. 5 February 2021. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  36. ^ Princewill, Nimi (2 February 2021). "Despite evidence, death threats, Governor Umahi moves to sue Peoples Gazette for N1 billion". Peoples Gazette. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  37. ^ Olokor, Friday (1 April 2021). "Umahi sues online newspaper for defamation, demands N2bn". The Punch. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  38. ^ Izuchukwu, Ojibe (10 September 2023). "Meet Rachael Umahi, Wife of Former Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi". Paper Nigeria. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  39. ^ "Full List: 2022 National Honours Award Recipients". The Nation. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
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