A Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State Friday affirmed the election of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State. Also Friday, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered stay of execution on the order removing Ikpeazu as Abia State Governor.
In his ruling, Justice Allagoa in Owerri declared that the tax documents presented by Governor Ikpeazu were not forged and consequently dismissed the case filed by Mr. Friday Nwosu.
The ruling was sequel to the matter filed by Mr. Nwosu against Ikpeazu; Uche Ogah; the Peoples Democratic Party; and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the alleged falsification of tax documents.
The Judge held that Mr. Nwosu was unable to prove that the tax documents were forged.
In Abuja, Justice Abang, who had last week nullified the election of Mr Ikpeazu as Abia state Governor on the premise that the tax document he presented at the December 2014 PDP governorship primaries were not genuine, however ordered stay of execution on the judgment.
Governor Ikpeazu had prayed the Court to order stay of execution on the earlier judgment by the court pending the determination of his appeal. The latest ruling has brought a temporary calm on the febrile political climate in the state.
