Abia impasse: I’ll defend my mandate with last drop of my blood, says Ikpeazu

Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu who is currently in a legal battle to retain his seat, has vowed to defend his mandate with the last drop of his blood, even as he described as unprecedented the ambition of Mr. Uche Ogah, who has been issued a certificate of return as governor on the orders of an Abuja court.

Dr Ikpeazu  stated this while responding to remarks by a group from Umuahia South, led by the former National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, who paid him a solidarity visit.

Addressing the crowd, Ikpeazu maintained that he was sure that the appeal court judgment will favour him.

The governor questioned the rationale behind Justice Okon Abang’s judgement which sacked him from office over tax issues and ordered that Ogah be sworn in, maintaining that as a public servant his tax was deducted at source.

He further frowned at the speed with which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) gave certificate of return to Dr Ogah, adding that there was  more to it.

He said it was most unfortunate that Ogah who never participated in the election or campaigned would want to rip where he did not sow.

“I can’t forget the stress we went through during the campaign. We visited all the LGAs, there were some LGAs we visited four times before election and someone from nowhere wants to rip where he did not sow, I will defend the mandate with the last drop of my blood.”

Ikpeazu recalled that for months he went through the hurdles of tribunal up to Supreme Court after which judgement was given to his favour, and vowed to fight on till justice is won.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, said they were in government house in solidarity to support the governor and to assure him that the people of Umuahia South were solidly behind him.

He disclosed that having studied what transpired and the desperation to swear in Dr Ogah, they had come to the conclusion that no man born of a woman will remove him.

Reading the nine-point communique signed by major stakeholders, the Transition Committee Chairman of Umuahia South, Barr Randy Ukawoke said Dr Ogah’s desperation to enter government house is better described as civilian coup. He however expressed happiness that all his efforts failed.

He said, “We have come to affirm our support to you, to tell you that you were elected legally in line with PDP and the electoral law, we are against Justice Abang’s ruling and also condemned the manner INEC hurriedly gave certificate of Return to Ogah.”