Abia: INEC issues certificate of return to Ogah

The Independent National Electoral Commission has issued Certificate of Return to Mr. Uche Ogah as the governor-elect of Abia State.

INEC Commissioner in charge of the South-East, Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, performed the duty on behalf of the commission in Abuja on Thursday.

The action of the commission followed judgement by a Federal High Court, which ordered the commission to withdraw the certificate of return given to the Governor of the state, Mr. Okezie Ikpeazu, and give it to Ogah.

Both Ogah and Ikpeazu contested the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary in the state.

While Ikpeazu came first at the primary, Ogah came second.

However, Ogah went to court, saying that Ikpeazu deceived the party by allegedly presenting incorrect tax papers during screening.

The court upheld his submission during the trial.

The commission said it decided to present the certificate of return to Ogah as directed by the court.

Nwuruku told journalists that the court directed the commission to issue the certificate with immediate effect.

He said, “The situation is we are simply obeying the court order. The court said with immediate effect, we should issue him certificate of return, and that is what we have done.

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