Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Hon. Aaron Uzodike, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker-elect for Aba North state constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, has accused the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, of delaying his inauguration five months after a court judgment in his favour.
He said that the Speaker had not offered any justifiable explanation why the judgment of Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos which ordered that the Certificate of Return issued to the former occupant of the seat, Hon. Destiny Nwagwu, be withdrawn and re-issued to him (Uzodike) has not been obeyed.
Hon. Uzodike argued that it was the same Appeal Court judgment that sacked Senator Darlington Nwokocha (LP), and brought in Senator Austin Akobundu (PDP), that also ordered that he be issued with the certificate of return.
Addressing newsmen in Umuahia, Hon. Uzodike who had represented the constituency from 2019 – 2023, said that the the Speaker had no excuse not to comply with the November 27, 2023 Appeal Court judgment delivered in his favour.
Narrating his ordeals, Uzodike said that INEC issued him with the Certificate of Return on December 13, 2023, as ordered by the court.
He said that he had on December 14, 2023, proceeded to the House of Assembly armed with a Certified True Copy (CTC), of the court judgement, and a letter from INEC stating that Hon. Nwagwu had been withdrawn.
The lawmaker-elect who said he was expecting to be sworn in by the Speaker, expressed disappointment that the Speaker failed to do the needful.
“I went to the House on that day with the expectation that the Speaker would inaugurate me but he didn’t do that till today.
“But after much pressure, the Speaker scheduled January 18, 2024 for my inauguration but unfortunately, he later communicated to me that the inauguration would not hold again indefinitely.
“Then I went to him in his office to find out why he postponed my swearing in indefinitely, and he told me he received ‘order from above’ not to swear me in,” he said.
Uzodike said that there was no court orders restraining his inauguration right from from November 27, 2023 up untill January 19, a day after his scheduled inauguration date.
“But on January 19, the former lawmaker, Destiny Nwagwu rushed to Abia State High Court sitting at Obehie, Ukwa West Local Government Area, and filed a suit.
“He was not challenging my victory. He affirmed that he was no longer a member of the House but only said he was personally investigating my certificate.
“Then the Speaker through his Chief Press Secretary, later said he would not swear me in because of the suit filed by Nwagwu. But where it pained me most was that the the first hearing of the matter was fixed for March 5.”
The PDP lawmaker-elect said the suit was discharged on March 19 after four adjournments as the plaintiff failed to appear before the court.
“As at today, there is no suit pending anywhere in court stopping the Speaker from inaugurating me but I don’t know why he has refused to do the needful.
“I have formally written to the Speaker to inaugurate me. On April 16 I went to the House showing that I’m healthy and ready to do my job but the Speaker failed to do the needful.”
He appealed to Gov. Alex Otti, to direct the Speaker to comply with the court order and inaugurate him.
Uzodike argued that it would not be proper for Governor Otti who is being hailed in many quarters for good governance to be showing disrespect for the Rule of Law.
“I appeal to the Governor to direct the Speaker to inaugurate me without further delays.
“There is no doubt that the Governor has done some good works and made good policies and he should be applauded. But he should obey the law.
“The work of the Assembly is beyond party politics. Interest of the state is paramount. My constituents are not being represented, and this is unfair.”
Hon. Uzodike dismissed as unfounded, insinuations in some quarters, that traditional rulers from his constituency, had asked the Speaker to declare his seat vacant over alleged incapacitation.
The lawmaker-elect said he was healthy, and fit to discharge his duties.
Uzodike who regretted that every peaceful move he made to reach the Governor to resolve the impasse, had met brick walls.
He appealed to the Governor and the Speaker to show respect to the constitution that also brought them to power.
