By Dipo Awojobi – Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria to cede the certificate of return to the opponent of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state as he was never qualified to run for the party primaries in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a guber candidate.
The judge also ordered the Chief Judge of the state to swear in Uche Ogah, his opponent in the Decmeber 2014 gubernatorial election in state as the substantive governor og Abia state, the judge ruled that on the account of fake tax returns during the primaries, Dr. Ikpeazu was never qualified to run in the primaries.
Meanwhile, the embattled Governor has vowed to appeal the judgement.
The Governor who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Eyinanya said the governor had been in the civil service where his tax had always been deducted from the source.
He said the Governor remained in office as Abia Governor, urging the people to be calm.
He added that the judgement would be appealed.
