The Peoples Democratic Party, Abia state chapter has described the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which ordered that Sampson Ogah be sworn in as “a rape of democracy,” NAN reports.
This declaration was made by Johnson Onuigbo, the PDP state chairman on Thursday, June 30, at the end of the party emergency meeting in Umuahia, Abia state capital.
Onuigbo, accompanied by members of the executive committee, said the party is also aware of rumours circulating that there are plans to flood the state with military personnel.
According to him, such an invasion would trigger off anarchy, adding that the party was poised for showdown over the planned inauguration.
The PDP chairman, added that the judgment and issuance of Certificate of Return to Ogah had undermined the peace and tranquillity enjoyed in the state.
He said: “Abia is not safe. I didn’t want to believe the rumour that the state will soon be invaded by the army because this is not a war zone.
“We want to inform the world that there is tension in Abia because democracy is about to be raped.
“As a party, we will resist any move by anybody to undermine the peace in the state.
“As a law-abiding state, the government had obtained an exparte injunction restraining the state Chief Judge or any other judges from swearing in Ogah as governor.
“We are ready for them, we are ready to die.
“If they do it, then they are inviting anarchy and confusion in the state.
“We are in a democracy so we want the world to hear and know that we are being short-changed in Abia.”
Onuigbo said the party had sent emissaries to Ogah to persuade him “to sheath his sword and allow peace to reign in Abia”, but to no avail.
He said that at the end of the current crisis, the party would sanction Ogah for disregarding entreaties from the chieftains of the party.
The court, presided over by Justice Okon Abang, on Monday, June 26, ordered Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to vacate office as governor over the case of tax evasion.
Justice Abang also ordered that Ogah, who came second in the PDP primaries, should be sworn in as the governor.
Ogah was also issued the Certificate of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja on Thursday, June 30, but he his hopes were dashed following an injunction by the Abia state High Court forbidding his swearing in.
The order made by Justice Chibuzo Ahuchaogu of the Abia High Court said among other things, “Upon this motion ex-parte pursuant to section 143 (1) & (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and pending the determination of the motion on notice, after hearing O.O Nkume, counsel to the applicant.”
Apart from the court order, Ikpeazu also declared Friday and Monday as public holidays in “honour of a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ojo Maduekwe, who died on Wednesday”.
The federal government has already declared Tuesday and Wednesday public holidays to mark the Ed-il-Fitr.
The implication is that the judiciary in Abia state will not open for business until Thursday, July 7, making it impossible for Ogah to immediately challenge the injunction granted Ikpeazu.
But according to Ogah, the injunction obtained by embattled governor Okezie Ikpeazu could not invalidate his inauguration as he is on his way to Umuahia, the Abia state capital, to be sworn in as governor.
Isaac Nobenz
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