Unic Press UK: Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah who was issued a Certificate of Return as the duly elected Governor of Abia by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has arrived in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State.
Ogah arrived in Umuahia on Thursday, the 30th June, to assume duties as Governor after a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja presided by Judge Okon Abang had nullified the election of Okezie Ikpeazu; and ordered INEC to issue a Certificate of Return to Ogah who came second in the 2014 PDP Gubernatorial primaries in Abia State.
In his ruling on Monday, Judge Abang said:
“It is hereby ordered that INEC, the third defendant should immediately issue certificate of return to Dr Samson Ogah as governor of Abia state in the election held in 2015 and restore to him all the entitlements as the elected governor of Abia.
“Dr Okezie Ikpeazu is hereby ordered to vacate office as governor of Abia immediately relying on the decision of the Supreme Court in INEC vs Obi.”
The Judge had ruled that Okezie Ikpeazu perjured given that the 2011 tax clearance certificate and income tax that he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission prior to the 2014 PDP Guber primaries were untenable, ridden with phoney information.
Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah scored the second highest number of votes at the 2014 Abia State PDP Governorship primaries.
Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah (L) and Okezie Ikpeazu
High Court stop Ogah’s swearing-in as Abia State Governor
On the 30th June, a High Court sitting at Osisioma Ngwa in Abia State presided by Judge Chibuzo Ahuchaogu issued an order restraining INEC from issuing a Certificate of Return to Ogah.
Judge Ahuchaogu’s order reads:
“Upon this motion ex-parte pursuant to section 143 (1) & (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and pending the determination of the motion on notice, after hearing O.O Nkume, counsel to the applicant.
“It is ordered that an order of injunction is hereby made restraining the 2nd defendant (INEC) from issuing a certificate of return to the 1st defendant (Ogah) while the claimant (Ikpeazu) remains in office in accordance with section 143 (1) & (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and pending the determination of the motion on notice.
“It is further ordered that the 3rd defendant (chief judge of Abia State) or any other judge of the court or any judiciary officer are hereby restricted from swearing-in the 1st defendant (Ogah) while the claimant (Ikpeazu) remains in office in accordance with section 143 (1) & (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and pending the determination of the motion on notice.
“It is also ordered that this order is hereby made to last for 10 days from today. The returnable date is fixed for the 8th day of July, 2016.
“Furthermore, the condition attached to this order is that the enrolled order must be served along with the motion on notice on respondents, else he order automatically lapses on 8th July, 2016.”
