By Austin Ogwuda
ASABA—MR. Kingsley Philips,  who was recently issued with a Certificate of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as winner of Ika South seat in the Delta State House of Assembly in the 2007 polls, following the order of the Appeal Court, yesterday, vowed to regain his mandate despite alleged ploy to deny him from being sworn in.

Philips has consequently  filed contempt proceedings against Delta House of Assembly for allegedly refusing to swear him in, as ordered by the appellate court.

However, Okonta’s lawyer Mr. Efe Akpofure, SAN,  yesterday, in Asaba, said  that since his client had appealed to the Supreme Court, the status quo should be maintained.

Meanwhile, the Clerk of the House, Mr. Raymon Yavbieri,  in a statement in Asaba, said “the House is in possession of documents from Mr.  Philips from an  Appeal Court, Abuja, judgment, which gave him victory for Ika South constituency in his suit with the incumbent representative of that constituency in the House, Mr  Martin Okonta, who incidentally is Speaker of the House.

“The House is also in possession of documents relating to an application for stay of execution order by Mr Okonta against the judgment. In the circumstances, therefore, the House has referred the two conflicting positions.”