…as Ikpeazu writes INEC, says he remains gov

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA—The  People Democratic Party, PDP, has appealed to the Supreme Court, challenging the nullification of the election that brought Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State to power.

PDP, in the appeal, urged the apex court to set aside the judgment that was delivered by the Court of Appeal, Owerri on December 31, 2015.

The party contended that the appellate court panel headed by Justice Oyebisi Omoleye,  erred in law when it not only sacked Ikpeazu, but also declared Dr. Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, the winner of the April 11 and April 25 supplementary elections.

It maintained that the  appellate court judgment occasioned a gross miscarriage of justice and therefore, ought to be set aside in its entirety.

PDP, argued that neither Otti nor his party, APGA,  adduced credible and cogent evidence in support of their substantive petition against  Ikpeazu’s election victory.

Meanwhile, Ikpeazu, yesterday, wrote the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, asking him not to do anything that will tamper with his office as the governor of Abia State.

The governor, in the letter by his lead counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, said he remained the governor, pending when he has exhausted his right of appeal.

Ikpeazu said he had already instructed his lawyers to challenge the nullification of his election at the Supreme Court.

He argued that section 233(2)(e)(iv) of the 1999 constitution, as amended, imbued him with an unfettered right to remain in office pending the determination of his appeal.

Nevertheless, Ikpeazu, decried that the appellate court had since refused to avail him with a copy of the judgment that nullified his election.