BEVERLY HILLS, June 30, (THEWILL) – The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has issued a certificate of return to Uche Ogah, who came second in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, December 2014 governorship primary in Abia state, declaring him the new governor of the state.
He will replace Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, whose election was annulled by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.
The court said Ikpeazu was guilty of tax evasion and was therefore unqualified to have contested the 2015 governorship election in the state.
It ordered the electoral body to issue a certificate of return to Ogah, who contested the governorship ticket with the governor.
The court also ordered the governor to vacate office immediately, and hand over to Ogah. Meanwhile, Ikpeazu had indicated his intention to appeal the decision.
THEWILL gathered that Mr. Ogah is expected to be sworn in today.
