A socio political group, South East Progressives Assembly(SEPA) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) to withdraw the Certificate of Return given to Uche Ogah.
The group argued that the successful entering of Ikpeazu’s appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, has rendered invalid the Certificate of Return handed to Ogah.
SEPA , 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.
The statement read; “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 Uche Samson 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 urged Ogah to consider the interest of peace and unity in Abia state by halting actions capable of causing hatred among the people of the state.
“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.”
