Abia Speaker Finally Bows To Pressure, Swears-in Member-elect Nine Months After Appeal Court Ruling

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Abia State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has hailed the inauguration of Honourable Aaron Uzodike as the member representing the Aba North State Constituency at the Abia State House of Assembly after nine months of deliberate procrastination.

The Party described the  development as a significant milestone in the journey towards deepening Nigeria’s democracy.

This is just as Honourable Uzodike extended his heartfelt gratitude to all men and women of goodwill who stood by him and democracy throughout the trying moments.

The Source reports that the Emanuel Emeruwa-led Abia State Legislative body,  after nine months of grandstanding and pontification, which inexorably snow-balled into gross display of legislative impunity and disregard for the judiciary, on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, finally bowed to pressure, and swore-in Uzodike.

For the records, the National/State Assembly Election Appeal Court, which sat in Lagos, had on November 27, 2023, affirmed Honourable Uzodike of the PDP as the rightful winner of the March 18, 2023, State Assembly elections.

The three-man Appeal Court Panel, had ruled to quash the earlier electoral victory of Destiny Nwagwu of the  Labour Party, LP, in the March 18 2023 election.

The National/State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia had,  in its ruling given victory to Hon Nwagwu.

However, on appeal, the victory was overturned in favour of Hon Uzodike of the PDP.

Following the verdict, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, issued Uzodike with a Certificate of Return after withdrawing the one earlier issued to Hon Nwagwu.

But in a development that jolted not a few, the Abia State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Emeruwa, blatantly refused to swear-in Uzodike, even in the face of overwhelming entreaties both from the PDP, Abia opinion leaders and other stakeholders.

Speaker Emeruwa, had, at first, premised his position, on alleged absence of consequential  order in the said Appeal Court judgment explicitly directing the swearing-in of Uzodike.

However, he was forced to recant, after the position failed to hold water and persuade keen watchers of the macabre dance.

Some months back, while appearing on a local Radio programme, Speaker Emeruwa again, cited a nebulous Court injunction restraining him from swearing-in Uzodike.

Attempts by the media to interrogate the obviously false claim of an injunction was met by even more impunity by the Speaker.

Particularly, the media and many concerned watchers, had questioned which Court in the land has the legal right to subject the decision of the Court of final jurisdiction to a further examination.

For one ,many, including the media, had insisted that going by the provisions of relevant sections of the 2022 Electoral Act, as amended, the Appeal Court remains the final arbiter in all National/State Assembly electoral petitions.

For vehemently challenging him to make public the said Court  injunction ,the Speaker  sent away two working journalists with the Enyinmba FM Radio, Aba from his scheduled press briefing at Assembly Complex in Umuahia in June this year.

Instructively, as at the time he succumbed to pressure to swear-in Uzodike on Monday, this Magazine’s checks could not establish the existence of such a restraining  order; and when, and  how it was vacated and by which Court.

Speaking shortly in an interview  after his swearing-in, Hon Aaron said:  I am eternally grateful to all men and women of goodwill who stood by me to call for the upholding of the rule of law .

“They fought the battle on my behalf. I am eternally indebted to them all. I dedicate today’s victory to you all. I will not take your love ,support and words of encouragement for granted.

“To my Constituents, the good people of Aba North, I promise you quality representation beyond legislation”

The PDP in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Head of its Media Team, Elder Abraham  Amah ,and made available to this Magazine, praised the tenacity and perseverance of Hon Uzodike amidst the nine- month travails.

The PDP also called on the Speaker to avail Hon Uzodike all his legally recognized  entitlements  within these past months.