Controversy in Abia as two governors now rule the state

The centre has refused to hold in Abia state regarding a false documentation scandal which have given room for a battle over the governorship seat.

This troubling issue takes the lead of virtually every Nigerian daily for Friday, July 1.

The Vanguard and Daily Sun share a similar headline on their front pages. “One state, 2 govs” their headlines read.

Constitutional chaos broke out in Abia State, yesterday, after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, issued a certificate of return to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship claimant, Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah.

The commission said its action was on the basis of a court ruling, Monday, by an Abuja Federal High Court which removed Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu from office as governor of the state, allegedly for failing to fulfil requirements expected of a candidate for the governorship. The INEC action immediately paralysed activities in the Ikpeazu-controlled Government House in Umuahia, setting anxiety among officials and other stakeholders, Vanguard reports.

Daily Sun reports that While Ogah arrived the state from Abuja to a heroic reception yesterday,  Ikpeazu said he remained the governor irrespective of whatever order was issued by the Federal High Court and the consequential actions of INEC, pending the full exhaustion of all judicial avenues of seeking redress.

According to him, “Abia State is a peaceful State consisting of law-abiding citizens but their patience should not be stretched and their civility taken for granted. The citizens of Abia State will resist any attempt to subvert their will which they freely expressed at the polls and which was affirmed by the Supreme Court.”

But addressing the crowd that received him as he arrived the Sam Mbakwe International Airport Owerri, Ogah promised that his government would be fair to all and not be for a particular local government or section of the state.

Ogah who was flanked by his wife, some Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains and supporters who defied the downpour to receive him added: “I have been issued the certificate of return by the National Chairman of INEC as the lawfully and duly elected governor of the state in the 2015 governorship polls in Abia State. I want to assure the people of the state that this is a new dawn of better future for all. It’s a dawn of fresh air.”

Ikpeazu insisted that INEC acted in error, as he said he served the electoral umpire a notice of appeal.

“Our laws are clear on this matter. No one may be issued with a certificate of return let alone be sworn in as governor, when there is a subsisting appeal and application for stay. Unless and until the appellant courts have conclusively resolved the appeal, the status remains, I am still the governor of Abia State,” Ikpeazu declared.

The Nation lends its voice to the development with the headline, “Stalemate in Abia”.

Uche Ogah arrives Sam Mbake Airport
According to reports, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, was on his way to deliver an inaugural lecture at the Abia State University, Uturu when the news filtered in of the possibility of having Ogah take his position. He reportedly cancelled the event and made a quick return to Aba.

Ikpeazu had operated from the Government House Liaison Office in Aba since he assumed office on May 29, 2015.

Many of Ogah’s supporters were seen at the Government House main-gate in anticipation of his inauguration.

The Punch also reports about the confusion in Abia, even as court stops swearing-in of Ogah.

According to the report, the conference of Nigeria Political Parties commended the INEC for promptly issuing a certificate of return to Ogah as the Abia state governor in line with the ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Moving away from the troubles in Abia state, The Guardian‘s headline reads “N’Assembly adopts confab report for constitutional review”.

The House of Representatives has given a tacit endorsement to the 2014 National Conference Report as it adopts the document for the amendment of the 1999 Constitution.

But yesterday, the Senate was silent on its own plans, though it emerged that the upper chamber had adopted the report of the fourth alteration on the Constitution which former President Goodluck Jonathan did not sign into law before leaving office.

Efforts to reach the Chairman of the Adhoc Committee on review of the Constitution and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu yesterday, were futile as he did not pick calls placed to his two lines.

Meanwhile, the face-off between the Presidency and the Senate over the trial of Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu for alleged forgery of Senate Rules has deteriorated.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) David Babachir Lawal, had described the last confab as a “job for the boys, a remark which the Deputy Chairman of the Conference, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, took a serious exception to.

Several sources noted yesterday that the federal lawmakers made the adoption following their conviction that the document contained useful suggestions that could move the country forward on the path of greatness.

“It therefore means that the proponents and opponents of the report can now come to the National Assembly and do business with lawmakers who are true representatives of the people. It is an endorsement of the work of the elders and patriots who were paid from the national coffers to sit and discuss our common project,” a source said yesterday.

In sports, the headline “National Stadium to be named after Keshi” takes the front page of Complete Sports.