Ugonna Ozurigbo, the member-elect for Nkwerre/Nwangele/Isu/Njaba of Imo State, who was sacked by the Owerri Federal High Court over alleged illegitimate nomination process has insisted that he would be part of the members of the ninth Assembly, who would be sworn in on June 11.
Ozurigbo, in a statement issued in Owerri on Thursday by his media aide, Philip Dike, said that there was no truth in the speculation that the Court of appeal in Owerri had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue the Peoples Democratic Party, Kingsley Echendu, with a certificate of Return.
He said that until his appeal is heard, he remained the member-elect for the federal constituency.
Ozurigbo said the Court of Appeal in Owerri did not strike out the Motion for Stay of Execution of the Judgement of Owerri Federal High Court which he filed. The case was heard on Thursday.
He explained that the court advised that the parties involved in the suit be put on notice.
The statement partly read “Contrary to insinuations and the news being spread by haters and hirelings of Kingsley Echendu,(PDP), the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri this Thursday morning, 6th June, 2019, did not strike out the Motion for Stay of Execution of the Judgement procured from the Federal High Court also in Owerri, rather the court advised that the parties involved should be put on notice.
“However, any lawyer or learned individual should understand that the court cannot in a matter it has not heard order that the PDP candidate, Mr. Echendu Kingsley be sworn in.
“Until the Appeal is heard and disposed of on its merits, Rt. Hon. Ugonna Ozurigbo remains the candidate to be inaugurated.
All followers and well-wishers of Ugonna Ozurigbo are hereby urged to go ahead with their preparations for the inauguration ceremony on the 11th of June, 2019 and give no ear to the childish rumours from the political neophytes across the line.”
PUNCH
