Following the successful entering of Gov.okezie Ikpeazu’s appeal at the
Court of , Abuja, a socio political group, South East Progressives
Assembly (SEPA) has called on the Independent National Electoral
Commission, (INEC) to withdraw the Certificate of Return given to Uche
Ogah.
The group said that the successful entering of Ikpeazu’s appeal at the
Court of Appeal, Abuja, has rendered invalid the Certificate of Return
issued to Ogah.
In a statement, entitled ‘A Call for INEC to Withdraw Uche Ogah’s
Certificate of Return’, signed by its President, Ebere Uzoukwa, the group
berated INEC for aiding Ogah to stage a failed coup against Gov. 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, the 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 Uchechuukwu Sampson Ogah.
“SEPA upholds the standpoint that Friday July 8 judgment of Owerri
Federal High Court presided by Justice Lewis A. 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 which
Ogah currently parades.
SEPA further stated that a situation where Ogah brandishes a Certificate
of Return while the court of appeal decides on the appeal emanating from
his suit makes mockery of the judiciary and democracy in Nigeria.
“Notably, Certificate of Return is neither given in advance nor by mere
anticipation on a pending case. We have expected INEC to be properly
guided by this process of court and retrace itself to further restore
normalcy and calm in Abia state.”
“The governorship of a state is sacred hence it is constitutionally
protected from any form of invasion and intrusion. A situation where a
usurper who never participated in all stages of an election brandishes
the toga of ‘Governor-Elect’ by virtue of certificate of return
unlawfully given by INEC does not only pose a threat to the sitting
governor but suggests a conscripted coup against the state.
There is no provision whatsoever in the constitution and electoral act
that justifies the Certificate of Return Ogah parades especially as
Ikpeazu’s appeal had legally activated the ‘status quo’ that must be
maintained under the law pending the determination of the case by the
court of appeal.”
The group advised Ogah to place the peace and unity in Abia state above
personal gains, by halting actions capable of causing hatred among the
people of the state.
According to SEPA, “The people of Ukwa/Ngwa supported Orji Kalu who
governed the state for 8 years from Abia North. They also supported
Umuahia in Abia Central for 8 years via the immediate past Governor Sen.
Theodore Orji. It will be totally unfair for Uche Ogah and some of his
kinsmen from Abia North to stage a coup against Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and
Ukwa-Ngwa people just after one year in office. SEPA strongly believes
that anyone seeking equity must do so with clean hands.”