Abia Assembly inaugurates lawmaker nine months after court ruling

The Abia State House of Assembly on Tuesday sworn in Mr. Aaron Uzodike as the lawmaker representing Aba North State Constituency.

Uzodike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) replaced a Labour Party member, Destiny Nwangwu, who was sacked by the Court of Appeal last year.

The Court of Appeal, Lagos, on November 27, 2023, nullified Nwangwu’s victory in the March 25, 2023 State Assembly election in the constituency.

The court ordered the immediate withdrawal of the Certificate of Return earlier issued to Nwangwu by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In compliance with the order, INEC issued a fresh certificate of return to the PDP candidate.

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Uzodike’s inauguration was, however, delayed after it was alleged that the court judgment was surrounded by controversies.

The Clerk of the House, Mr. JohnPedro Irokansi, administered the oath of office and oath of allegiance to the lawmaker during the plenary in Umuahia.

In a brief remark after the inauguration, the Speaker of the House, Mr. Emmanuel Emeruwa, congratulated Uzodike on behalf of other lawmakers for returning to the House.

The returning lawmaker was a member of the Seventh Assembly in the state.

In a chat with journalists after the ceremony, Uzodike promised to provide good representation to his constituents.

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