Read are the PDP members in Abia have said they are ready to die to ensure Sampson Ogah doesn’t become the next governor of the state

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.

Ogah signing his Certificate of Return

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 .