A group known as the Supreme Council of Ukwa-Ngwa Youths, from Abia State, has threatened to make the state ungovernable if the mandate of embattled governor of the state, Okezie Ikpeazu, is not restored.
The group issued the threat following the decision of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to issue Ikpeazu’s challenger in the December 2014 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primaries, Dr Uche Ogah with certificate of return.
Recall that an Abuja Federal High Court had last week sacked Ikpeazu as governor over tax-related matters.
The Justice Okon Abang-led court also ordered INEC to issue certificate of return to Ogah, which the electoral body complied with.
In a statement by its National Co-ordinator, Kingsley Okadigbo, members of the group criticized INEC for its action and vowed to defend the mandate of Ikpeazu with the last drop of their blood.
Okadigbo said, “The sack of Governor Ikpeazu by Justice Abang is a rape of the Ngwa man’s right. It is a clear case of judicial rape of democracy in Nigeria, an act we shall vehemently resist by whatever means possible. No man is born violent or a militant.
“The security and safety of oil and gas facilities and the staff of the operational joint venture companies in Ukwa-Ngwa nation can no longer be guaranteed, if issues raised here-in are not redressed in consonance with the rule of law and diligent due process.
“Our peaceful disposition should not be taken for granted, as we call on forces behind orchestrated plot to set Abia State ablaze to desist from doing that henceforth and give peace a chance.
“We will use the last blood of our bodies as youths of the nine LGAs out of 17 to defend the mandate freely given to him.”
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