MAD faults INEC over issuance of certificate of return to Ogah

A Human rights and good governance advocacy initiative, Make A Difference (MAD), yesterday faulted the deci­sion of the Independent National Electoral Com­mission (INEC) to issue a Certificate of Return to Mr Uche Ogah who came second at the last Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries in Abia State following the verdict of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.

INEC claimed that it was acting on the judgement of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, which held that Dr Ikpeazu was never qualified to run in the primaries on the ac­count of fake tax returns.

In a statement issued by the Executive Director of MAD, Lemmy Ughegbe, the initiative said, “the rush by INEC to issue a Certifi­cate of Return to Ogah with the speed of lightening as opposed to its customary lethargic response to court orders in the past, gives the impression that INEC was not acting in good faith.”

“It is too simplistic for INEC National Commis­sioner in charge of the South East, Amb Law­rence Nwuruku to say that we are simply obeying the court order. The law is not intent on promot­ing absurdity of any form and the issuance of a Cer­tificate of Return to Ogah within twenty four hours of the trial court’s order amount to mischief and absurdity under the guise of the electoral body obey­ing court order,” MAD stated.

MAD reckons that it will plunge Abia State into confusion and all sorts of malfeasance should Ogah be sworn in as Governor and the Appeal Court re­stores Ikpeazu and the Supreme Court takes an­other turn, adding that such absurdity cannot be the intendment of the law.

“The Federal High Court’s decision is a court of first instance and since it is apparen

t that Ikpeazu has a right to go to the Court of Appeal and Su­preme Court to seek to re­verse the instant decision, it is perverse for INEC to rush through the process of issuance of the Certifi­cate of Return to Ogah,” the Initiative declared.