The Abia state House of Assembly has yet to provide an official statement regarding the delay, but PDP sources have indicated they are closely monitoring the situation and will respond as necessary.
On August 13, 2024, the Abia State House of Assembly officially swore in Hon. Aaron Uzodike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the representative for Aba North State Constituency. This follows a protracted nine-month legal dispute.
The conflict began when the Appeal Court in Lagos disqualified the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Destiny Nwagwu, and affirmed Uzodike as the rightful winner of the 2023 State House of Assembly election.
Uzodike had initially contested the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration of Nwagwu as the winner at the Election Petition Tribunal in Umuahia. After the tribunal’s ruling was unfavorable, Uzodike’s legal team appealed the decision.
In October 2023, the Appeal Court ruled in Uzodike’s favor, mandating his swearing-in. Despite this, the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, delayed Uzodike’s swearing-in, citing an ongoing court matter.
The delay sparked significant pressure from various groups, including the PDP and local stakeholders, who urged the governor and Assembly Speaker to proceed with Uzodike’s swearing-in. Reports indicated that the postponement might have been related to the Labour Party’s efforts to retain control over the State Assembly’s structure.
The long-standing dispute concluded on Tuesday when Speaker Emeruwa swore in Uzodike during the Assembly’s plenary session. Sources suggest that high-level discussions between Assembly leaders, the state government, and Uzodike might have influenced the final decision. There are also speculations about potential shifts in political allegiance by Uzodike.
The Abia State House of Assembly has yet to provide an official statement regarding the delay, but PDP sources have indicated they are closely monitoring the situation and will respond as necessary.
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