Despite the issuance of Certificate of Return to Mr. Uche Ogah as Abia State Governor by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as directed by the Court, Mr. Okezie Ikpeazu, says he remains the Governor.
On Thursday, INEC National Commissioner for the South-East, Mr. Lawrence Nwuruku, confirmed that the certificate was issued to Mr. Ogah, who came second at the PDP primaries in compliance with the order of a Federal High Court in Abuja, which nullified the election of Mr. Okezie Ikpeazu as Abia Governor.
Justice Okon Abang had held that Mr. Ikpeazu presented a fake tax returns hence not qualified to run for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries ahead of the 2015 governorship election.
But, Mr. Ikpeazu, who has already filed an appeal against the ruling reacted to the development in a statement he personally signed this way:
“I have received with concern, report of the purported issuance of Certificate of Return to Mr. Uche Ogah by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as governor of Abia State, despite dependency of a notice of appeal and motion for stay of the orders made by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
“Our laws are clear on this matter. No one may be issued with a certificate of return let alone be sworn in as governor, when there is a subsisting appeal and application for stay.
“I want to appeal to Abians to remain calm and law abiding in the face of this provocation, unless and until the appellant courts have conclusively resolve the appeal, the status remains, I am still the Governor of Abia State.
Dr Okezie Ikpeazu
Governor, Abia State
