*Ikpeazu’s Appeal Notice Has No Stay-of-execution Order
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has confirmed that it received a notice of appeal from the Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.
The commission, however, said the documents it received did not contain a stay-of-execution order, to stop the issuance of a certificate of return to Sampson Ogah as the next governor of the state.
The electoral body had on Thursday issued a certificate of return to Mr. Ogah as directed by a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.
Justice Abang Okon had ruled that Mr. Ikpeazu submitted fraudulent tax documents when he filed papers to run for governorship ticket on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Nick Dazang, spokesman for INEC, said Mr. Ikpeazu’s failure to provide a stay-of-execution order left the commission with no choice than to issue the certificate of return to Mr. Ogah.
He said since Mr. Ikpeazu’s notice was not deemed sufficient, it