The Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly has finally sworn in Aaron Uzodike as Member Representing Aba North State Constituency.
After about nine months of back and forth litigations, Aaron Uzodike is now the Member representing Aba North State Constituency under the Peoples Democratic Party.
Aaron Uzodike, contested during the 2023 House of Assembly election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But the Independent National Electoral Commision (INEC) declared Destiny Nwagwu of the Labour Party (LP) the winner of the election. Discontented by the election outcome, Uzodike challenged Destiny Nwagwu’s victory in the Court of Appeal, Lagos State.
While the legal process was ongoing, the appellate court on the 27th of November, 2023, nullified the election that produced Destiny Nwagwu as the winner and then ordered an immediate withdrawal of the certificate of return initially issued to him. The court also ordered the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a fresh certificate of return to Aaron Uzodike, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate.
INEC sent a letter to the clerk of the Abia State House of Assembly, Mr John Pedro declaring the withdrawal of the certificate of return from Destiny Nwagwu, the Labour Party candidate.
Despite the court’s ruling and the letter sent to the House of Assembly by Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), the Speaker, Emmanuel Emeruwa had stated that the Court of Appeal did not explicitly mandate Aaron Uzodike’s inauguration which caused delays attributed to disobeying the court injunction and other factors as well. Some individuals and groups called for the resignation of the Speaker.
The Labour Party has a total of 11 lawmakers after the defection of two lawmakers from the YPP
With the swearing in of Aaron Uzodike who now represents Aba North constituency, PDP now has 12 lawmakers in the house.
PDP now increasing its representation in the House of Assembly has made some observers and residents of Abia State expect a shift in legislative processes especially when the House of Assembly reconvenes after its recess, which starts today.
The Abia PDP has congratulated Aaron Uzodike on his successful inauguration as the member representing Aba North Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly
