Following the certificate of return that was issued to Uche Ogah to return as governor of Abia State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has tendered reasons for its decision.
Ogah came second at the last Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries in Abia State.
INEC National Commissioner in charge of the South East, Amb Lawrence Nwuruku said the commission only kowtowed to the lawful order of a court.
Nwuruku added that as a citizen, he could go to jail if he flouts a valid court order. He said if the court tomorrow orders a reversal of the action, INEC would not hesitate to do its bidding.
NWukuru said: “The situation is that we are simply obeying the court order. If court says we should issue the same certificate to another person. In this case, court ordered us to issue a Certificate of Return to the person who won the election and that is Uche Ogah.
“I was the person who gave the Certificate of Return to governor Ikpeazu as he was declared winner.
“Now, the court has said otherwise. One thing we know is that we are not above the law and we cannot disobey the laws of the land. After the court, another person we obey in our land is God and my conscience is my God. Another thing that guides us is the court and we must obey its order with immediate effect. If you were in the court that day, and I urge you the media, to go and study the court ruling very well, it was wonderful; it was direct.”
Meanwhile, the sacked governor of the state Okezie Ikpeazu has dared the INEC on the issuance of the CoR to Ogah, despite a notice of appeal and motion for stay of the orders made by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The governor in a statement personally signed by him Abuja, told his supporters and Abians to remain calm because he remained the 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 dependency 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.
“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 resolves the appeal, the status remains, I am still the Governor of Abia State.”
