I still remain Abia Governor – Ikpeazu insists, Vows to Appeal Court’s Ruling

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The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has urged people of Abia state not to panic, but remain calm over the judgment of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja that he should vacate office immediately.

Abang had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue a Certificate of Return to Uche Ogah, who was deemed to have won the primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party in December 2014.

Both Ikpeazu and Ogah contested in the primaries with the later coming second behind Ikpeazu and he went to court to contest the genuineness of the tax certificate submitted to INEC by Ikpeazu.

Governor Ikpeazu, who said that he has faith in the judiciary and the rule of law, added that he will appeal the ruling as he has instructed his lawyers to file an appeal immediately against the said judgment.

The Governor noted as an appointee of the Abia State Government from 2011 to 2014, when he served as the General Manager of Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme and the first Deputy General Manager of the
Abia State Environmental Protection Agency, Aba and Environs respectively, before his resignation in October 2014 to contest the governorship election in the state, his taxes were deducted at source and when he had need of his tax clearance in 2014 came up, he applied to the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue and was duly issued with his tax receipts for the period in question.

He maintained that he remains the Governor of the state according to law and will await the final determination of the matter by the appellate courts.