By Suleiman Anyalewechi
Amidst growing disenchantment, anger and restiveness among not a few Abians irrespective of party affiliations over the continued refusal of the leadership of the State House of Assembly to swear in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, member-elect, Aaron Uzodike, eight months after his declaration as the authentic winner of the Aba North state Constituency seat, the PDP Chairman in the State, Dr Alwell Asiforo Okere, has directed the Party’s Lawmakers to explore all lawful means to ensure his inauguration..
The Source reports that the National/State Assembly Election Appeal Court sitting in Lagos had in November, 2023, declared PDP’s Uzodike as the rightful winner of the 2023 elections to represent the Aba North State constituency, after nullifying the earlier electoral victory of Labour Party’s Destiny Nwagwu.
However, eight months down the line, the Speaker, Emmanuel Emereuwa-led Abia State House of Assembly has refused to admit him as their member, despite being issued with a certificate of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC .
Besides, the Appeal Court, going by the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act, the Appeal Court remains the last jurisdiction for all National/State Assembly related electoral litigations.
The Speaker has, however, severally premised his refusal on the absence of a clear directive from the Appeal Court judgment for Uzodike to be sworn-in.
He has also been alluding to a subsisting court order restraining him from swearing in the member-elect .
In all, his arguments have so far failed to persuade even the most ardent critics and traducers of the PDP in the State who are yet to come to terms with the purported existence of a Court order that tend to override the ruling of a Court of final jurisdiction on National/State Assembly litigations.
In a statement issued on Saturday, June 15, 2024, by its Vice Chairman/Acting Publicity Secretary, Abraham Amah, and made available to The Source (Magazine), Dr Okere said the directive for PDP Lawmakers to pursue the inauguration of Hon Uzodike resulted from a careful review of the situation on ground by the State Working Committee, SWC.
The PDP has demanded for a restructuring of the leadership of the House to reflect its position as the majority party as it is the norm globally.
“The State Chairman of Abia PDP Rt Hon Dr Alwell Asiforo Okere ,has instructed the members of the PDP caucus in the Abia State House of Assembly ,led by Hon Solomon Akpulonu ,to utilize all legitimate means available to ensure the immediate inauguration of Hon Aaron Uzodike ,the member-elect of Aba North state constituency ,by the Speaker,Rt Hon.Emmanuel Emereuwa.
“Recall that Emereuwa has failed to inaugurate the PDP member-elect, Hon. Aaron Uzodike whose mandate was restored by the Appeal Court in Lagos following the removal of Destiny Nwagwu of the Labour Party from office after more than seven months.
“This directive from Rt. Hon Asiforo follows consultations with members of the state Working Committee, SWC. 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 his Certificate of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC on December ,13 2023 ,which is the only requirement for his inauguration.
“The party demands that all emoluments and entitlements due to Hon Uzodike from the date of his Certificate of Return issuance be promptly paid ,as 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 PDP, as the majority party retains the office of Majority Leader as is customary in democracies worldwide.
“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 .
“This situation not only undermines the rule of law and shows disregard for the judiciary, but also threatens our hard earned democracy.
“The Abia PDP condemns the undemocratic actions of the Speaker and his sponsors and considers it as irresponsible and a violations of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which they have sworn to uphold and Abia PDP can not tolerate such actions any longer” part of the PDP statement reads.
