The Abia chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to prevent any attempt to inaugurate Sampson Ogah as the new governor of the state.
Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had, on Tuesday, ordered that Mr. Ogah, who came second in the PDP primaries, replace Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and be sworn in as the governor.
Following the ruling, a Certificate of Return was also issued to Mr. Ogah by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja on Thursday.
The PDP chairman however, said the judgment and issuance of Certificate of Return to Mr. Ogah was a threat to the peace in Abia state.
“Abia is not safe. I didn’t want to believe the rumour that the state will soon be invaded by the army because this is not a war zone.
“We want to inform the world that there is tension in Abia because democracy is about to be raped.
“As a party, we will resist any move by anybody to undermine the peace in the state,” Mr. Onuigbo said.
He said that as a law-abiding state, the government had obtained an exparte injunction “restraining the state Chief Judge or any other judges from swearing in Mr. Ogah as governor”.
“We are ready for them, we are ready to die,” he said, adding, “If they do it, then they are inviting anarchy and confusion in the state.
“We are in a democracy so we want the world to hear and know that we are being shortchanged in Abia,” he said.
Mr. Onuigbo said the party had sent emissaries to Mr. Ogah to persuade him “to sheath his sword and allow peace to reign in Abia” to no avail.