The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to Withdraw the Certificate Of Return Issued to the President Of Masters Energy Oil and Gas Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah pending the outcome of the Verdict of the Court Of Appeal.
Recall that INEC National Commissioner in charge of the South East, Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku had on behalf of the Electoral Body issued Certificate of Return to Mr Uche Ogah,claiming that his actions was necessitated by the Judgement of the Federal High Court.
“The situation is that we are simply obeying the court order.
The court said with immediate effect without wasting of time, we should issue him Certificate of Return and that is what we have done – to obey the court order. If the court tomorrow issues another order, we would obey the same. By the grace of God, I am the INEC Commissioner in charge of South East. I’ll do the same thing if the court orders us to do so.
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 Gov. Ikpeazu as he was declared winner. Nwuruku stated while defending his action.
Justice Abang Okon of the Federal High Court had on Monday 27th June 2016 ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue certificate of return to Dr Uche Ogah after disqualifying Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on grounds that he presented a forged Tax Clearance Certificate during the 2015 Primaries of the PDP.
But on Thursday June 30th 2016 Justice C.H Ahuchogu of the Osisioma Ngwa Division of the Abia State High Court ordered the Abia State Chief Judge Justice Theresa Uzoamaka Uzoekwe not to Inaugurate the President of Masters Energy Dr Uchechukwu Ogah as the Governor of Abia State pending the determination of the Suit brought by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu after the Judgement filed an Appeal at the Court Of Appeal and an Application for stay of execution at the Federal High Court.
Justice Abang Okon today directed all parties to head to the Court of Appeal as according to him,the Appeal Court now have the powers to settle the disputes.
PUO REPPORTS Sources at the INEC Headquarters confirmed that the Commission will be withdrawing the Certificate of Rertun ealier Issued to Dr Uche Ogah pending the outcome of the Appeal Court Verdict
