The Federal High court sitting today in Abuja has ordered the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, to vacate his seat.
In a ruling delivered by Justice Okon Abang, the High Court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a certificate of return to Uche Ogah, who was the plaintiff in the case. Mr Ogah had come in second behind Dr Ikpeazu in the PDP primary which took place in December 2014. The basis for the verdict was the reported submission of fake tax receipts by the governor to his party, the PDP, which were supposed to serve as part of requirements for his eligibility to vie for the post of Governor.
On December 31, 2015, the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri had sacked Dr Ikpeazu. The ruling was delivered in a case filed by Alex Oti, the candidate of the APGA in the gubernatorial elections held in 2015. Governor Ikpeazu has so far resisted attempts to eject him from Government House.
Dr Ikpeazu has reacted to the court order by insisting that he remains the substantive governor of Abia State, and has vowed to appeal the ruling.
Okezie Ikpeazu assumed office as governor of the South Eastern state on May 29, 2015, following the announcement of election results that were widely disputed at the time.
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