ENUGU, Nigeria — The Enugu State Government has publicly called on residents to dismiss the sit-at-home order issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and continue their routines.
This defiance of the IPOB order comes with a threat of sanctions against civil servants, schools, and markets that heed the call from the separatist organization.
The directive was communicated in a statement on Sunday, July 23, 2023, signed by Chidiebere Onyia, the Secretary to the State Government, SSG.
“The Enugu State Government wishes to remind the good people and residents of the state that the ban on the illegal Monday sit-at-home order remains effective,” said Onyia.
He further clarified, “Because of this, civil servants, schools, markets, financial institutions, business premises, and others, are hereby directed to resume normal activities on Monday.”
Onyia insisted that the state government is committed to enforcing the ban on the order by imposing penalties on those who choose to disregard the directive.
“Markets that fail to open to customers on Monday shall be shut down indefinitely, and shops in the markets that close on Monday shall be sealed and re-allocated to those eager to do business in the state,” he warned.
This latest development points to escalating tensions between the IPOB, a group calling for the independence of Biafra in southeastern Nigeria, and state governments within the region, further complicating a long-standing political and ethnic conflict in Nigeria.
Judicial Blow to APC: Enugu Court of Appeal Dismisses Suit Against Governor Mbah
The Enugu Division of the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, dismissed the case brought forward by the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, Uche Nnaji, challenging the 2023 gubernatorial victory of Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu state.
Justice J.O.K Oyewole, who led the three-man panel, delivered the decision confirming the earlier dismissal of Nnaji’s petition by the Justice K.M Akano-led Enugu State Governorship Election Tribunal on June 20, 2023.
Nnaji, who came fourth in the election with 14,575 votes against Governor Mbah’s 160,895, had contested that Mbah was not constitutionally qualified to run for the governor’s office.
Nnaji claimed that Mbah allegedly presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
He further averred that Governor Mbah was not elected by the majority of lawful votes cast at the election.
Candidates of Labour Party, LP, Chijioke Edeoga, and All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Frank Nweke Jr., were also named respondents.
Nnaji alleged they had violated the asset declaration law and were, therefore unqualified to run in the election.
He requested the Tribunal either to disqualify Mbah, Edeoga, and Nweke and declare him the winner or command INEC to conduct a runoff election with the remaining candidates.
Nonetheless, Justice M.K Akano, Chairman of the Tribunal, ruled on the petition EPT/EN/GOV/05/23 that the provisions of the Electoral Act did not file the lawsuit and hence could not be heard under paragraph 18(3) (4) of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Unyielding, Nnaji took his case to the Court of Appeal, urging it to return the dismissed petition to the Tribunal for reconsideration.
However, in the latest turn of events, marked by the case CA/E/E/EP/GOV/EN/01/2023, the Court of Appeal confirmed the Tribunal’s verdict and dismissed Nnaji’s suit.
Further, the court imposed fines of N250,000 each against Nnaji and the APC, reaffirming Dr. Peter Mbah’s victory as the legitimate Governor of Enugu state.
