Supreme Court victory is for all, says Ikpeazu

• APGA, Ogah React To Verdict
• Be Generous In Triumph, Orji Urges Gov

The Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu whose election was ratified yesterday by the Supreme Court, has dedicated his victory to everyone who stood by him while the case instituted by his political rivals lasted.

The governor, who spoke at Government House, Umuahia after the Supreme Court verdict in the appeal filed by PDP candidate, Uche Ogah, commended the judiciary “for standing firm on the side of the country’s constitution.”

He urged the people of Abia to join hands with him to ensure accelerated growth and development of the state.

“It is God that will take glory for the victory. The time for politics is long over. I have forgiven all those who were bent on distracting me.

“Let all well meaning Abians, including my opponents, join us to grow and develop our state without distractions as we ultimately have a stake in the growth and development of our state.

“Today, there is the work of Abia to do and history will judge us by how much of that work we do, not by how much politics we play. My doors are open to all, my ears eyes are open and strong enough to read suggestions on how we can best deliver greater dividends to those who really matter who are the great people of Abia.”

Reacting to the judgement, the Head of Campaign Publicity to Ogah, Chief Joshua Ogbonna, queried the apex court for setting aside the verdict of the federal high court presided over by Justice Okon Abang that nullified Ikpeazu’s victory and gave it to Ogah.

“If the Supreme Court set aside the verdict of Justice Abang, it means that the issue of Nigerians paying taxes should be revisited and another law enacted,” he said.

Commenting on the verdict, the former state PDP chairman, Emma Nwaka said that the apex court has finally resolved “the vexatious legal tussle on the winner of the 2015 Abia governorship election in Ikpeazu’s favour.”

He told The Guardian that it was sad that the case was allowed to drag on for too long against wise counsel with the sad effect of constituting a nuisance and distraction to the governor in his efforts to run the affairs of our state.

Stating that all is well that ends well, he congratulated Ikpeazu on his victory, describing it as a reaffirmation of the earlier judgment of the Appeal Court.

But state Chairman of APGA, Augustine Ehiemere described the judgment as ridiculous.

Meanwhile, former governor of the state, Theodore Orji has urged Ikpeazu to be magnanimous in victory irrespective of agonizing campaigns of calumny he suffered from the oppositions.

He also praised the aptness of the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court saying their precedent has contributed immensely to the sustenance and preservation of the country’s democracy since 1999.

In his congratulatory message to Ikpeazu yesterday through his Media Adviser, Don Norman Obinna, he said those who seek redress in court of law over perceived injustice did nothing wrong as it was their inalienable right to do so.