‘Democracy has been raped’

•Ikpeazu

The Abia State executive council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday took sides with Dr Okezie Ikpeazu whose governorship was nulified by a court.

Its chairman, Chief Johnson Onuigbo, described the political situation in the state as “a rape of democracy”.

Onuigbo told reporters in Umuahia that “there is nothing wrong when an aggrieved person goes to court and when a judgment is entered against you, you have the right of appeal, which the governor has exercised.”

Onuigbo said: “It is normal, but it has to be after an appeal had been heard that the governor can stay or vacate office.”

The governor has appealed the judgment. Besides, he has applied for a stay of execution. “Unfortunately INEC has gone ahead to issue a certificate of return to Uche Ogar, which is wrong,” Onuigbo said.

“As a party we will resist any move by anyone to undermine the peace in the state and as a government that believes in the rule of law we have obtained an injunction stopping the swearing in of Ogar,” he said, adding:

“If the people involved ignore the court injunction, there will be anarchy, as we are in a democracy; impunity should not be condoned.”