The embattled Governor of Abia State, Mr Okezie Ikpeazu, on Friday says he remains the legitimate governor of the state.
Speaking at the Government House in Umuahia, the Abia State’s capital in southwest Nigeria, the Governor called for calm and support from all residents in the state.
He said that the constitution gave him the right to appeal the case and expressed surprise at what he describes at INEC’s rush to issue a certificate of return to Mr Uche Ogah.
Mr Ikpeazu also expressed confidence that the judiciary would do the needful.
He dismissed the rumors that the Federal Government had a hand in the case.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) admitted receiving a notice of appeal from Mr Okezie.
The commission, however, said that the documents it received did not contain a stay-of-execution order to stop the issuance of a Certificate of Return to Mr Sampson Ogah as the next Governor of Abia State.
The electoral body had on Thursday issued a Certificate of Return to Mr Ogah in line with the directives of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.
