Withdraw Ogah’s Certificate of Return, SEPA tells INEC

By Ugochukwu Alaribe & Ochuko Akuopha

OLEH—LEGAL Adviser to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State,  Mr. Ben Odior, has described the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja that sacked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State from office on grounds of alleged tax receipt forgery as injustice and an invitation to anarchy.

This came as a socio-political group, South East Progressives Assembly, SEPA, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Uche Ogah.

Ikpeazu

The Abuja court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Okon Abang had ordered Ikpeazu to vacate his seat as governor of the state and mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to immediately issue a Certificate of Return to Mr. Uche Ogah, who had emerged second in the PDP governorship primary held in the state.

Reacting to the judgment, Odior held the ruling, which ordered that Ogah be immediately sworn-in as governor of the state was against section 143 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) which he said, gives anyone whose election is nullified 21 days to seek for an appeal.

Reiterating that the country’s constitution and Electoral Act are not in support of immediate replacement in cases of nullification of election, he said justice was not dispensed in the suit brought before the court.

 Withdraw Ogah’s Certificate of Return

But following the judgment of the Federal High Court, Owerri, which affirmed the election of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as the governor of Abia State, SEPA, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Uche Ogah.

The group insisted that the successful entering of Ikpeazu’s appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, has rendered invalid the Certificate of Return handed to Ogah.

In a statement by SEPA,  entitled, ‘A Call for INEC to Withdraw Uche Ogah’s Certificate of Return,’ signed by its President, Ebere Uzoukwu, the group berated INEC for aiding Ogah to stage a failed coup against Governor Ikpeazu and the state, lamenting that such action made mockery of the judiciary and democracy in the country.

“After a critical review of the renewed governorship tussle in Abia State, South East Progressives Assembly, (SEPA) implores the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to patriotically align with the judiciary and without further delay, withdraw the Certificate of Return unlawfully issued to one Uche Samson Ogah.

“SEPA upholds the standpoint that the July 8 judgment of Owerri Federal High Court presided by Justice Lewis  Allagoa, which dismissed Friday  Nwosu’s tax forgery suit affirming Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as governor of Abia State and the successful entering of the governor’s appeal, which has seized the jurisdiction of Justice Okon Abang’s Abuja Federal High Court on the case has rendered invalid the Certificate of Return currently paraded by Ogah.