Breaking News: Uche Ogah is the new Abia governor

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a certificate of return to Uche Ogah as the new governor of Abia state.

Ogah, the candidate who placed second at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Abi state governorship primary in 2015 suddenly finds himself on the brink of becoming governor, following Monday’s judgement of a federal high court sitting in Abuja that Okezie Ikpeazu, the party’s candidate and winner of the governorship election, was not qualified to hold the office.

[ads-post]

Justice Okon Abang, giving judgment on a suit filed by Ogah, agreed with the plaintiff that Ikpeazu evaded tax prior to his election, and as such was‎ not qualified to hold an elective office.

He ordered the removal of Ikpeazu and also ordered Abang also ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return it issued to Ikpeazu‎, and re-award it to Ogah, who had received 103 votes to Ikpeazu’s 487 at the primary election.

The electoral body complied with the order on Thursday.

This is the latest in a series of legal battles Ikpeazu has faced.

His election was previously challenged by Alex Otti, the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance‎ (APGA) in the April 2015 governorship election.

Although an election petition‎ tribunal upheld his election, the appeal sacked him. However, the supreme court returned him as governor.

Ikpeazu, who has since appealed against the order of the court, earlier urged his supporters not to panic because he “remains the governor of the state according to law”.