Following the continuous refusal of the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly to swear in the Member elect of the Aba North State Constituency, Hon Aaron Uzodike, the Abia PDP has issued a Press Release, instructing his immediate swearing in.
The State Chairman of the Party in Abia, Rt Hon Alwell Asiforo Okere, in a Release signed by the Acting Publicity Secretary cum Vice Chairman of the Party, Elder Abraham Amah, instructed the members of the PDP caucus in the Abia State House of Assembly, led by Hon Solomon Akpulonu, to utilize all legitimate and legislative means available,to ensure the immediate inauguration of Hon Aaron Uzodike, the member-elect of Aba North State Constituency, by the Speaker,Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa.
Recall that the Speaker, Emmanuel Emeruwa has failed to inaugurate the PDP member, Hon Aaron Uzodike, whose mandate was restored by the Appeal Court in Lagos, following the removal of Destiny Nwagwu of the Labour Party from office, after several months.
The Release stated that the directive from the State Chairman of the Party,followed due consultations with members of the State Working Committee (SWC).
“After reviewing the recent interview granted by the Speaker regarding the delay in Hon Uzodike’s inauguration, Abia PDP is convinced that there are no legal obstacles preventing his inauguration, following the issuance of his Certificate of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on December 13, 2023, which is the only requirement for his inauguration”.
The Party demanded that all emoluments and entitlements due to Hon Uzodike from the date of his Certificate of Return issuance be promptly paid, as there are no legal grounds for further delay in his inauguration by the Speaker, who represents the Labour Party.
Furthermore, the Release directed that the Principal Officers of the Assembly must ensure the restoration of legislative order by ensuring that the PDP, as the majority party, retains the office of Majority Leader, as is customary in democracies worldwide.
It added that the prolonged non-inauguration of Hon Aaron Uzodike,has deprived the people of Aba North of representation in the State Legislature for over seven months. “This situation not only undermines the rule of law and shows disregard for the judiciary but also threatens our hard-won democracy.
“The Abia PDP condemns the undemocratic actions of the Speaker and his sponsors and considers it as irresponsible and a violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which they have sworn to uphold, and Abia PDP cannot tolerate such actions any longer.
“We urge Abia elders, concerned citizens of Abia State, and conscientious members of the Labour Party, especially those dissatisfied with their leader’s autocratic tendencies, to intervene and ensure the immediate inauguration of Hon Aaron Uzodike to avoid the bastardization of our democracy and prevent the constituents from resorting to self help”.