The Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, has warned groups in Abia State to desist from making inciting comments, stressing that the embattled governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, remains the state governor until court proves otherwise.
The state has being enmeshed in confusion following a Federal High Court ruling that invalidated Ikpeazu’s election due to tax evasion.
Ikpeazu’s challenger during the 2014 Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship primaries, Dr Uche Ogah, had challenged his emergence as the party’s governorship flag bearer, stressing that the embattled governor submitted false tax documents to the party.
Ruling on the matter, Justice Okon Abang had recently sacked the embattled governor while ordering the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, to issue Ogah with the certificate of returns which was done, however Ogah is yet to be sworn in.
Ikpeazu while contending the court’s earlier ruling, filed a notice of appeal but the judge refused to entertain same.
But OYC in a statement by its Chairman, Mazi Alex Okemini, warned supporters of both contenders to the governorship stool to allow the court decide and give peace a chance in the state.
According to the statement, “On the tussle over the governorship position in Abia state, we are warning groups like the so called South-East Elders and another one who parades itself as Ngwa bu otu to give peace a chance in Abia State.
“Gov. Ikpeazu has appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja.The courts should be allowed to do their job. The governor has exercised his fundamental rights and no amount of propaganda will solve the situation in the state. We warn those who are working to destabilize Abia to refrain from such acts.
“Dr Ikpeazu has the mandate of Abians and until the appeal court decides otherwise, he remains the Governor of Abia State. There is no constitutional crisis in Abia state as the fake group implied but rather, an attempt by desperados to carry out a civilian coup using the toga of a court ruling that is under challenge at a superior court.”
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