THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Thursday afternoon issued a certificate of return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, Uche Ogah, following an order by the Abuja Federal High Court on Monday, June 27th, mandating INEC to immediately issue Certificate of Return to Ogah, who came second at the PDP primaries in the state in 2014.
Ogah had dragged the former state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, before the court, arguing that he presented false tax clearance during the party primaries.
The presiding judge, Justice Okon Abang, said that on the account of fake tax returns during the primaries, Ikpeazu was never qualified to run in the PDP primaries as a governorship candidate.
He nullified Ikpeazu’s election and ordered INEC to issue a certificate of return to Ogah.
Ikpeazu has since filed an appeal against the ruling.
Ikpeazu, was heading to ABSU, where he was billed to deliver a lecture Thursday afternoon before he had the news that Ogah has been presented with Certificate of Return, had to immediately return to Abia Government House.
All is now set for the new governor to take over and he is expected to nominate his deputy later on Thursday and forward the name to the House of Assembly for approval.