Dr Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has said he still remains governor of the south east state, moments after the electoral umpire handed Uche Ogah the certificate of return.
A court had ruled earlier this week that Ikpeazu forged tax papers and wasn’t qualified for the PDP primary that heralded his way to the general election, ab initio.
“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 dependency of a notice of appeal and motion for stay of the orders made by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja”, the deposed governor said in a statement he personally signed.
“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.
“I want to appeal to Abians to remain calm and law abiding in the face of this provocation, unless and until the appellant courts have conclusively resolved the appeal, the status remains, I am still the Governor of Abia State”, Ikpeazu said.
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