‘I’m Still A Senator, Minister’ – Umahi Clarifies Ministerial Appointment Amidst Tribunal Case

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has declared he is still a senator despite his ministerial appointment by President Bola Tinubu.

Naija News reports that Umahi made this known during an interview with Channels TV while responding to questions on the morning show ‘Sunrise Daily’.

Umahi said to deliver on his responsibility, President Tinubu must give him at least the size of his budget.

When asked by the host if he would need to work with the National Assembly, the former governor responded by saying he is still a senator.

Recall that the Ebonyi State National and State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja had reserved judgment in the petition filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Michael Nnachi and Labour Party (LP), Linus Okorie, who are challenging his declaration as the winner of the Ebonyi South Senatorial seat.

The petitioners are asking the tribunal to nullify the election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate because Umahi did not score the majority of valid votes cast in the election.

Asked if he had not resigned from the position of senator, Umahi said he is a senator and not a sitting senator because he has exited the National Assembly.

According to him, the ministerial inauguration by law means he has resigned from the other office, but the position still belongs to APC until the tribunal says otherwise.