Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has congratulated his predecessor and Senator representing Abia Central, Senator Theodore Orji, on his victory at the election petition tribunal.

The petition of Barr. Ahamdi Nweke of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) seeking for the annulment of the declaration of Chief Orji of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Abia Central Senatorial election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was yesterday struck out and dismissed for lack of competence and for being vague, unverifiable and unreliable.

Governor Ikpeazu in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Godwin Adindu described the verdict as not the victory of Senator Orji alone but that of the people of the Abia Central and Abia State in general. He added that the rulings of the tribunal and that of the Appeal Court in Owerri in the week have been a vindication for PDP and a vindication for democracy.

Ikpeazu described Senator Orji as the father of the modern Abia and a symbol of equity and justice. He said that his victory is another feather to his cap and another crown of glory for his doggedness and resilience in liberating Abia and in evolving a new state of equity and balance of power.

While using the occasion to congratulate all other candidates of the PDP who have emerged victorious in the tribunal, the Governor said he is not in doubt that all the candidates will prove themselves as worthy ambassadors of their constituencies and the state both in the National Assembly and State House of Assembly.

Ikpeazu further commended the leadership of PDP for remaining steadfast in the pursuit of justice through the rule of law. He noted that the victor in all the political struggles will be the people and the masses of the state whose will and aspiration have been upheld by the tribunal and upon whose mandate the candidates are serving in their different capacities.

The Governor appealed to members of the opposition not to take the law in their hands by resorting to violent demonstration as reaction to the tribunal rulings as this is capable of breaching the peace in the state. He advised them to always channel their grievances through the appropriate quarters which, in the circumstance, is a recourse to the appeal court.

Ikpeazu in another statement expressed his condolence to the family of Rt. Honourable Gideon Atuloma, former Speaker of the old Imo State House of Assembly, who passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 81.

“As his remains are interred in his home town, Umuabali, Umuokodo, Umuahia South on Friday, October 16, 2015, Governor Ikpeazu extends the sincere feelings of the good people of Abia State to the family, colleagues and friends of the renowned lawmaker and the Umuokodo Community for the vacuum that has been created in the social and political life of the people by the death of the politician and community leader,” Adindu said.

The Governor noted that Atuloma left indelible footprints in the sands of time by the way and manner he led the House as the Speaker and contributed immensely to the growth of democracy in the country in his career as a politician.

He described him as a generational gift not only to his community and Abia State but to the entire country which benefited from his visionary leadership of the old Imo legislature.

Governor Ikpeazu prayed God to console the family and relatives and give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

•Photo shows Governor Ikpeazu.

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