Abia Governorship: Court Bars Chief Judge from Swearing Ogah as Governor

Bonnie Iwuoha, Abia Commissioner for Information, says Okezie Ikpeazu has secured a court order restraining Abia Chief Judge from swearing in Uche Ogah as governor of Abia.

Iwuoha made the disclosure on Thursday in Umuahia while addressing newsmen.

Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court, Abuja, had removed Ikpeazu as governor and ordered INEC to issue Certificate of Return to Ogah.

INEC complied with the order and issued Certificate of Return to Ogah on Thursday.

Iwuoha told newsmen that the restraining order was issued by Justice C.H. Ahuchaogu of an Abia High Court, sitting in Osisioma.

“The order which is contained in Suit No. HOS/52/2016 has Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as claimant with Uche Ogah, INEC and the Chief Judge of Abia as 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents respectively.

The 3rd respondent, any other judge of the court or any judicial officer are hereby restrained from swearing in the 1st respondent, while the claimant remains in office pending the determination of Motion on Notice,” he said.

Iwuoha said the court also ordered the INEC not to issue Certificate of Return to Ogah in line with Section 143 (1) and (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

Meanwhile, the Abia chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that it will resist any attempt to inaugurate, Ogah, as the new governor of the state.

The party made the resolution and declaration at end of its emergency meeting in Umuahia on Thursday.

The state Chairman of the party, Johnson Onuigbo, accompanied by members of the executive committee, said that the party got wind of a plan to flood the state with military personnel.

Onuigbo said that such an invasion would trigger off anarchy, adding that the party was poised for a showdown over the planned inauguration.

He described the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which ordered that Ogah should be sworn in was “a rape of democracy”.

The PDP chairman said that the judgment and issuance of Certificate-of-Return to Ogah had undermined the peace and tranquility enjoyed in the state.

“Abia is not safe. I didn’t want to believe the rumour that the state will soon be invaded by the army because this is not a war zone. We want to inform the world that there is tension in Abia because democracy is about to be raped. As a party, we will resist any move by anybody to undermine the peace in the state,” Onuigbo said.

“We are ready for them, we are ready to die,” he said, adding, “If they do it, then they are inviting anarchy and confusion in the state. We are in a democracy so we want the world to hear and know that we are being shortchanged in Abia.”

Onuigbo said that the party had sent emissaries to Ogah to persuade him “to sheath his sword and allow peace to reign in Abia,” but he refused.

He said that at the end of the current crisis, the party would mete out sanction to Ogah for disregarding entreaties from the chieftains of the party.