He noted at his campaign office in Umuahia yesterday, that those who went to court with the allegation were misguided and bad losers, saying that the Abuja court vindicated him by dismissing the allegations and awarding cost to the applicants when it was proved that it was a case of mistaken identity.
The PDP candidate however, said that there was another Chief Okezie Ikpeazu, a businessman and a farmer, who also hails from Obingwa but whom they mistook for Dr. Ikpeazu, stressing that he is not addressed as a chief.
He explained that as a civil servant for 12 years, he paid his taxes as the tax of a civil servant is deducted at source and therefore could not be evaded.
“Payment of tax was not a matter of choice but I paid compulsorily as a civil servant, therefore payment or non-payment cannot be an issue for a public servant, every public servant pays tax on pay as you earn system,” the PDP candidate said.
He stated that he had submitted the requisite documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the issue of tax evasion came up in court. He however, added that the constitution and the Electoral Act have nothing against tax evasion, saying that even if it were true it was not enough to stop him as a candidate of the party.
In his remark, the legal adviser of the Okezuo Abia campaign organisation, Mr. Teddy Eruba, INEC has not withdrawn or disqualified any candidate, let alone Ikpeazu who emerged through a transparent process.
Answering questions on other allegations of forged certificate and god- fatherism, Ikpeazu noted that he consulted all the major stakeholders in the state before the governorship primary and has the assurance of Governor Theodore Orji that he would not suffer what he (governor) suffered. He added that he could not have taught in four universities and risen to the rank of head of department with forged certificates.
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