Abia state PDP Chairman directs House of Assembly PDP members to enforce inauguration of Appeal Court declared PDP elected member for Aba North constituency.

Chairman of Abia state PDP, Rt. Hon. Dr. Alwell Asiforo Okere yesterday instructed the members of the PDP caucus in the Abia State House of Assembly, led by Hon. Solomon Akpulonu, to use all legitimate and legislative means available to enforce the immediate inauguration of Hon. Aaron Uzodike, the Appeal Court declared member-elect for Aba North Constituency.

The Speaker of the House Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa has denied Uzodike inauguration more than seven months after the terminal Appeal Court on 13, December 2023, declared him ( Uzodike ) the duly elected lawmaker for Aba North and sacked his Labour Party rival in the election Chief Destiny Nwagwu who held that position.

INEC had since December 13, 2023, issued Uzodike his Certificate of Return and nullified that of Nwagwu after the Appeal Court declaration.

The State PDP Vice Chairman/Acting State Publicity Secretary Elder Abraham Amah who made known the State Chairman’s directive to the PDP Lawmakers in a press release yesterday, disclosed that the directive by Rt. Hon. Dr. Asiforo followed consultations with members of the State PDP Working Committee (SWC).

Amah said that after reviewing the recent interview granted by the Speaker regarding the delay in Hon. Uzodike’s inauguration, Abia PDP is convinced that there are no legal obstacles preventing his inauguration following the issuance of Certificate of Return to Uzodike on December 13, 2023, describing the Certificate as the only requirement for Uzodike’s inauguration.

According to the state PDP Spokesman, the prolonged non-inauguration of Hon. Aaron Uzodike has deprived the people of Aba North of representation in the State legislature for over seven months stressing that this situation not only undermines the rule of law and shows disregard for the judiciary but also threatens Nigeria’s hard-won democracy.

He also demands that all emoluments and entitlements due to Hon. Uzodike from the date of his Certificate of Return issuance be promptly paid, hence there are no legal grounds for further delay in his inauguration by the Speaker, who represents the Labour Party.

” Furthermore, the Principal Officers of the Assembly must ensure the restoration of legislative order by ensuring that the PDP, as the majority party, retains the office of Majority Leader, as is customary in democracies worldwide.

” The Abia PDP condemns the undemocratic actions of the Speaker and his sponsors and considers it as irresponsible and a violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which they have sworn to uphold, and Abia PDP cannot tolerate such actions any longer”

He also urged Abia elders, concerned citizens of Abia State, and conscientious members of the Labour Party, especially those dissatisfied with their leader’s autocratic tendencies, to intervene and ensure the immediate inauguration of Hon. Aaron Uzodike to avoid the bastardization of our democracy and prevent the constituents from resorting to self help