The governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has stopped the swearing in of Dr. Uche Samson Ogah as the new governor of the state after obtaining a court order from Osisioma Ngwa High Court, stopping the exercise.
The order with the suit number HOS/52/2016 issued on Thursday followed a restraining suit filed by counsel to Governor Ikpeazu, O. O. Nkume, which the presiding judge, Justice C. H. Ahuchaogu granted.
The court order was in response to an ex-parte motion brought pursuant to section 143 [1] and [2] of the electoral Act, 2010 as amended after hearing the governor’s counsel.
The reads, “That an order of injunction is hereby made retraining the 2nd Defendant [INEC] from issuing a certificate of return to the 1st Defendant Ogah while the claimant remains in office in accordance with section 143 [1] and [2] of the electoral Act 2010, as amended pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.
“It is further ordered the 3rd defendant [Abia Chief Judge] or any other Judge of the court or any judicial officer, are hereby restrained from swearing in the 1st defendant while the claimant remains in office in accordance with relevant sections of the electoral act 2010 as amended.
“It is also ordered that this order is hereby made to last for 10 days from today being Thursday 30th June 2016 and the returnable date is fixed for the 8th days of July, 2016.”
Meanwhile, Ikpeazu in a release he personally signed told the people of the state to remain calm and law abiding, as he is still their governor.
He said, “I have received with concern report of the purported issuance of Certificate of Return to Mr. Uche Ogah by the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC], as governor of Abia State, despite pendency of a notice of appeal and motion for stay of the orders made by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
“Our laws are clear on this matter. No one may be issued with a certificate of return let alone be sworn in as governor, when there is a subsisting appeal and application for stay of the orders.
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