By Daniel Kanu
Assistant Politics Editor
Judiciary workers have been cautioned not to play into the hands of politicians who toy with lives and aspirations.
Abia State government expressed concern over the decision of the Court of Appeal which ordered the removal of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu from office, saying it would have launched the state into anarchy but for his plea to the people to remain law abiding.
Ikpeazu’s Chief Press Secretary, Godwin Adindu, argued that what the people desire is good governance, which they experienced in the first 200 days of Ikpeazu in office.
Adindu said the judgment nullifying the election of Ikpeazu is a travesty of justice and a rape of democracy “and the entire world must rise up to condemn this judicial rascality. Abia State is not for sale and nobody should trifle with the destiny of the people.
“All the people involved in this grand conspiracy to cause havoc in Abia and drag the state into anarchy and bloodshed should stay clear of Abia.”
Street protests
Since the Court of Appeal on December 31 last year, there have been protests across the state, including that of Ukwa Ugwa men, led by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara and Gershion Amuta, which grounded activities in Aba.
Ukwa Ugwa women protested in black attires as they marched on the streets of Aba in a re-enactment of the Aba Women’s Riot of 1929.
The state government argued that if the ruling is allowed to stand, it would mean the denial of the rights of a large number of the electorate to choose their representatives.
It wondered how the Appeal Court could allow the disenfranchising of three councils which constitute one-third of voters in the state, including Ikpeazu himself.
“How could they [the justices] have ordered the INEC [Independent National Electoral Commission] to swear-in Alex Otti immediately after their pronouncement when they know that there is still a window of 14 days within which [Ikpeazu] has the right to appeal to the Supreme Court?” Adindu asked.
He said the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was not ready for the 2015 governorship election as demonstrated by its inability to field candidates for the House of Assembly in the two state constituencies of Obingwa Council.
“So who could have mobilised or monitored votes for APGA in Obingwa?”
Adindu described the peaceful demonstration in Aba and other parts of the state as a legitimate expression of the people’s will.
“There is a provision for such open show of disenchantment in our Constitution. The aim is to dramatise our anger over the Appeal Court ruling so that the entire world will know that injustice has been done to the people of Aba.
“Our people are conducting themselves within the ambit of the law.”
Confidence in Supreme Court
However, Adindu expressed confidence in the Supreme Court to uphold the victory of Ikpeazu, adding that his mandate is sacred and safe and cannot be replaced with money.
He criticised the composition of the Court of Appeal panel, recalling that the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had earlier raised an alarm that all the five justices were from Lagos division, contrary to the tradition of having a mixture of justices from different divisions.
“Lagos is where the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Alex Otti, resides and does business,” he said.
He recalled that the PDP had expressed fear of a possible compromise at the outset of the appeal by Otti who lost his case at the tribunal.
The government also condemned the invasion of the Aba residence of Works Commissioner, Eziuche Ubani, a leader of the protest against the court judgment; and the harassment of Ginger Onwutibe, Isiala Ngwa North Council transition chairman.
“This is an unwarranted intimidation. Government feels highly embarrassed by this action and demands an unreserved apology from the security agencies involved in the act.”