Ikpeazu warns against unlawful swearing-in of Otti

Abia State government has alerted the public to an alleged plan to swear in Dr. Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as the new governor on Monday based on last Thursday’s Appeal Court verdict that declared him as the winner of the governorship held in the state.

In the verdict, the court order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue Otti with his certificate of return.

The Information Commissioner, Comrade Bonnie Iwuoha, in a statement, warned those he said were ''planning to have the APGA governorship candidate, Otti, sworn-in illegally next Monday to desist from such dastardly act as the state government will not condone it''.

The commissioner, who said the government's warning was sequel to rumors about plans to swear in Otti, stressed that Abia and her citizens believe strongly in democracy and the rule of law.

According to him, ''anything outside the rule of law will be calling for anarchy and government would not want a breach of the peace in the state. No one will be allowed to take steps to disrupt the peace in the state. Those planning the illegal swearing in should desist as such an act will be stoutly resisted by the people.''

Meanwhile, the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Senator Emma Nwaka, has described the Appeal Court verdict as a perverse judgment ''that will certainly be upturned by the Supreme Court''.