An Osisioma High Court on Thursday restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from issuing certificate of return to Uche Ogah as the winner of the 2015 governorship election in Abia State.
The court also stopped the state chief Judge or any other Judge in the state from swearing in Ogah as governor of the state as ordered by an Abuja High Court early this week.
The order followed a suit filed by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu praying the court to restrain INEC from carrying out an earlier order of the Abuja High Court.
Granting the order, Justice C.H Ahuchaogu ruled, “That the 3rdDefendant 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 section 143(1) and (2) of the electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and pending the determination of the notice in motion.”
The commissioner for Information and Strategy, comrade Bonnie Iwuoha said the governor’s instituted the suit following a report that Ogah had been issued a certificate of Return by INEC.
Iwuoha also announced that the government has declared Friday and Monday next week as work-free days in memory of the former Nigerian High commissioner to Canada, Chief Ojo Maduekwe who died on Wednesday.
He said the gesture was in recognition of the immense contribution of the deceased to the development of the state and the country.
Meanwhile the leadership of the state chapter of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party has declared the order by the Abuja high court as a threat to democracy in the country.
Addressing newsmen at the Government House, the state PDP Chairman, Chief Johnson Onuigbo, said that the party would resist attempt by any person or group to threaten the peace of the state.
