Court orders Ikpeazu’s removal from office

A federal high court sitting in Abuja has ruled that Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia state governor, was not qualified to hold the office.

‎Okon Abang, the presiding judge, gave judgment in a suit filed by Uche Ogah, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member‎, against Ikpeazu.

In the suit, Ogar contended that the governor evaded tax prior to his election, and as such was‎ not qualified to hold an elective office.

The judge upheld the argument, ordering the removal of Ikpeazu for submitting false information to the PDP in the course of the party’s primary election.

It also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare Ogah, the man who placed second at the PDP primary, as the elected candidate.

At the primary, Ogar received 103 votes to place a distant second to Ikpeazu, who had 487 votes.

This is the latest‎ in a series of legal battles Ikpeazu has faced.

His election was previously challenged by Alex Otti, candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance‎ (APGA) in the April 2015 governorship election.

Although, an election petition‎ tribunal upheld his election, the appeal sacked him. However, the supreme court returned him to power.