The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for promptly issuing Certificate of Return to Dr. Uche Ogah as the Abia State Governor in line with the ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja, which sacked Mr. Okezie Ikpeazu as the state governor.

The CNPP observed that the development was a positive indicator that Nigerian democracy is advancing, adding that the action of the electoral umpire was also a pointer to the level of non-interference in the electoral and judicial processes in the country by the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The conference in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by its National Chairman, Alhaji Balarabe Musa and the Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu noted that “what has happened in Abia State shows that the era of impunity is behind us.

“There is hope in our democratic future as a country as any country where impunity is the norm never survives.

“President Muhammadu Buhari administration and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must be commended for this singular demonstration of courage to do what is right in line with the court judgment that ordered the issuance of the Certificate of Return to Dr. Uche Ogah who came second in the Abia State Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary.

“The prompt action taken by INEC to obey the judgment of the Abuja Federal High court that nullified the candidature of Ikpeazu as the Abia State Governor has shown that democracy is working in Nigeria,” the statement read.

•Photo shows Uche Ogah.