By CHARLES AHAMEFULA, Abakaliki

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State on Wednesday warned the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stop pressurizing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a Certificate of Return to their purported governorship nominees to replace Governor David Umahi and his Deputy, Dr. Kelechi Igwe.

The State Chairman of the APC, Mr. Stanley Okoro-Emegha, gave the warning while briefing journalists at the party's state headquarters in Abakaliki..

Recall that the opposition PDP had, through its Ebonyi State chairman, Mr. Tochukwu Okorie, tasked INEC to immediately issue a Certificate of Return to their governorship nominees, Hon. Idu Igariwey and Elder Fred Udeogu as Governor and Deputy, to avert creating a vacuum in governance.

But, the APC state Chairman, Okoro-Emegha said it was uncalled for and illegal to issue a Certificate of Return to someone who did not participate in an election and that the PDP’s request should be jettisoned for lacking in merit.

Okoro-Emegha said: “APC, Ebonyi State, has described as the foolishness of the highest order by Ebonyi PDP for demanding a Certificate of Return from INEC for their purported candidates for an election the said candidates never participated.

“The constitution of Nigeria, section 285 (13) and the amended electoral laws, both of 2010 and 2022, including all known cases of both Appeal and supreme Court decisions, already made it clear that you cannot benefit or sue or be used for an election you did not participate as a candidate (s).

“It is therefore very funny and childish for PDP to be requesting for Certificate of Return from INEC, even without regard to the Abakaliki Court order which is a judgement in REM on the seat of the Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi state.

“Ebonyi PDP is warned to desist from deceiving herself and the general public, knowing very well that the said judgement has since been appealed and the notice of appeal and stay of execution served on PDP.

“We are now aware of who and who are behind the crisis/cases against Ebonyi state government, including all the insecurity in the state since the Governor defected from PDP to APC. APC Ebonyi State will deal decisively with anyone who leaves his Facebook foolishness in the name of being nominated as a candidate and steps into Ebonyi to further the crisis and insecurity.”

“Ebonyi State government is stable and all projects and programmes are ongoing and will never stop,” he concluded.

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