David Nweze Umahi CON, a Nigerian statesman and the present minister of works was born on July 25, 1963. Before that, he served as the deputy governor from 2011 to 2015 and then as the governor of Ebonyi State from 2015 to 2023. Furthermore, he had earlier occupied the position of senator for the Ebonyi South Senatorial District from June to August 2023.
Following his nomination, evaluation, and ratification by the senate, President Bola Tinubu designated him as the minister of works on August 16, 2023. He took his oath of office as minister of works on August 21, 2023.
Umahi’s Early life and education
Umahi was born on July 25, 1964. He is the offspring of Elder Joseph Umahi Nwaze and Margaret Umahi of Umunaga, Uburu in the erstwhile Ohaozara Local Government Area, now part of Ebonyi State.
Umahi completed his secondary education at Ishiagu High School and the Government Secondary School of Afikpo before enrolling at Enugu State University of Science and Technology in 1982, where he later earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1987.
He was a co-founder of Norman Engineering and Construction Nig in 1990 alongside Ombo Isokarari and held the position of general manager until 1993.
He chaired Brass Engineering and Construction Nig Ltd. as chairman and CEO from 2004 to 2011, including focus investment nig.Ltd and Osborn La Palm Royal Resort Ltd.
He originates from a family of nine consisting of two daughters and seven sons, including Major-General Obi Abel Umahi (Rtd.), the former chairman of the South-East Security Committee, Ebubeagu, who resigned in May 2021. Additionally, Roy Umahi Nwaeze is a legal practitioner, while Austin Umahi Nweze was the former southeast vice chairman of the People’s Democratic Party.
Political Journey
Umahi commenced his governmental career in 2007 when he was appointed as acting chairman of the PDP’s Ebonyi State chapter. He held the role of state chairman from 2009 until 2011. During that period, he also chaired the governing board of the Federal Medical Center in Asaba for a year.
On a ticket with then-Governor Martin Elechi, Umahi was elected deputy governor of Ebonyi State in 2011. However, in 2014, Governor Elechi endorsed Onyebuchi Chukwu as his successor, which Umahi argued violated their agreement regarding his succession.
Umahi triumphed over Chukwu in the primary elections. Following a fire incident at the House of Assembly in February 2015, motions to impeach Elechi over claims of gross misconduct, financial misappropriation, and anti-party behavior were lodged later that month, resulting in a tumultuous remainder of Elechi’s term.
On April 12, 2015, Umahi emerged victorious in the gubernatorial elections despite challenges from the Labour Party, the All Progressives Congress, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance due to “widespread irregularities, killings, and rampant destruction of property.” The legitimacy of the election was affirmed by the Governorship Election Tribunal in October 2015.
Umahi secured re-election as governor of Ebonyi state in the polls held on March 16. He garnered 393,343 votes, surpassing APC candidate Sonny Ogbuoji, who received 81,703 votes.
Only days after Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a notable figure in the APC, was announced, Umahi declared on January 11, 2022, that he planned to contest for the presidency of Nigeria in the 2023 general elections. Umahi had consulted with President Muhammadu Buhari prior to this declaration.
This statement contradicted his previous assertion made after aligning with the APC that he intended to withdraw from politics following his governorship.
On March 8, 2022, Umahi and his deputy Eric Kelechi Igwe were both ousted from their roles as governor and deputy governor of Ebonyi State by the Federal High Court in Abuja for joining the All Progressives Congress while still in office.
An interim ruling of seven days was granted to Umahi and his deputy Eric Kelechi Igwe by the State High Court on March 11, 2022.
On April 1, 2022, the Court of Appeal in Enugu State confirmed Umahi as Governor of Ebonyi State, asserting that his defection to the APC was unethical but not unconstitutional, thereby upholding a previous ruling by the Federal High Court in Ebonyi.
However, the Federal High Court in Abuja disqualified Umahi on grounds differing from those at the Federal High Court in Ebonyi. The decision from the Federal High Court is currently under appeal, but the Abuja Court of Appeal has yet to address it.
Corruption Accusations
As reported by a Peoples Gazette article dated January 29, 2021, Umahi transferred over $3.06 billion in state funds to his enterprise, Brass Engineering & Construction Nigeria Limited, during his tenure as governor and deputy governor. Banking records indicate that payments to Umahi began in 2011, with his appointment as deputy governor by Martin Elechi, and continued throughout his governorship.
Umahi and an ally subsequently demanded a retraction and $1 billion in “reparation” from the People’s Gazette after issuing threats to reporters via phone and blocking the publication’s website. After the newspaper maintained its position, Umahi initiated a defamation lawsuit against the Peoples Gazette seeking $2 billion in damages.
