* Orji 
The Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has congratulated his predecessor and Senator representing Abia Central, Senator Theodore Orji, on his victory at the election petition tribunal. 

 The petition of Bailiff Ahamdi Nweke of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) seeking for the annulment  of the declaration of  Orji of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Abia Central Senatorial election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was  yesterday struck out and dismissed for lack of competence and for being vague, unverifiable and unreliable. 

  Ikpeazu described the verdict as not the victory of   Orji in particular but that of the people of the Abia Central  and Abia State in general, adding that the rulings of the tribunal and that of the Appeal Court in Owerri in the week have been a vindication for PDP and a vindication for democracy.

 He described  Orji as the father of the modern Abia and a symbol of equity and justice, stating that his victory is another feather to his cap and another crown of glory  for his doggedness and resilience in liberating Abia and  in evolving a new state of equity and balance of power. 

 A press statement signed by Mr. Godwin Adindu Chief Press Secretary to the Governor quotes the governor as commending  the leadership of the PDP for remaining steadfast in the pursuit of justice through the rule of law, noting that the victor in all the political struggles will be the people  and the masses of the state whose  will and aspiration have been upheld by the tribunal and upon whose mandate the  candidates  are serving in their  different capacities.

 The  Governor also appealed to members of the opposition not to take the law in their hands by resorting to violent demonstration as reaction to the tribunal rulings  as this  is capable of breaching the peace in the state. He advised them to always channel their grievances through the appropriate quarters  which,  in the circumstance,  is a recourse to the appeal court.