Justice C.H Ahuchogu of the Osisioma Ngwa Division of the Abia State High Court has ordered the Abia State Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Uzoekwe, not to Inaugurate Uche Ogah as the Governor of Abia State pending the determination of the suit brought by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
The Judge ordered that no Judicial Officer should Inaugurate Ogah as Governor while Ikpeazu remains in Office Pursuant to section 143(1) and (2) of the Electoral Act.
Earlier on Thursday, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had issued the Certificate of Return to Uche Ogah as Governor of Abia State.
Oluwole Osaze-Uzi, INEC’s Director of publicity, said the action was in obedience to the order by the federal high court in Abuja to that effect.
The court had on Monday directed INEC to cede the certificate of return issued to Okezie Ikpeazu, to his opponent in the 2014 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship primary held in December 2014.
Justice Okon Abang held that Ikpeazu was not qualified to have run for the office of the governor in the first place, having tendered fake tax papers during his screening.
The judge also ordered the Abia State Chief Judge to swear in Uche Ogah as the substantive governor of the state.