Okezie Victor Ikpeazu (born 18 October 1964) is a Nigerian politician who serves as the
Governor of Abia State, in office since 29 May 2015. He was elected on the platform of the
Peoples Democratic Party. He was re-elected as the governor of Abia state after winning the 9 March gubernatorial election.
Early life and professional career
Okezie was born on 18 October 1964, to the family of late Pa Ishmael and Deaconess Bessie Ikpeazu of Umuebere in Umuobiakwa village, Isialaukwu, Mbato Autonomous Community in
Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Ikpeazu attended Amaise Central Primary School, Umuobiakwa. In 1973, while in primary five, he gained admission into Eziama High School,
Aba and later moved to Ihie High School, Isiala Ngwa where he took his School certificate examination in 1979. In 1980, at the age of 16, he gained admission into the
University of Maiduguri
The University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) is a Federal higher institution located in Maiduguri, the capital city of Borno State in northeast Nigeria. The university was created by the federal government of Nigeria in 1975, with the intention of its ...
to study Clinical Biochemistry and graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons.) Second Class Upper Division in August, 1984.
From August 1984 to August 1985, he served as a Clinical Biochemist in the Medical Laboratory of the
Rivers State University of Science and Technology
Rivers State University (RVSU or RSU), formerly Rivers State University of Science and Technology (UST or RSUST), is a university located in the Diobu (Mile III) area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
As of 2021, the vice chancello ...
,
Port Harcourt for his
National Youth Service. Okezie Ikpeazu returned to the
University of Maiduguri
The University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) is a Federal higher institution located in Maiduguri, the capital city of Borno State in northeast Nigeria. The university was created by the federal government of Nigeria in 1975, with the intention of its ...
for an M.Sc Degree in Biochemical Toxicology and graduated in 1990. In 1994, at the age of 30, he obtained a Doctorate Degree, Ph.D in Biochemical Pharmacology from the
University of Calabar
The University of Calabar is a public university situated in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. It is one of Nigeria's second generation federal universities. The University of Calabar was a campus of the University of Nigeria until 1975. Th ...
.
Before joining politics, Okezie Ikpeazu had been a lecturer in several Nigerian educational institutions.
Political career
On 31 December 2015, a
Court of Appeal sitting in
Owerri
Owerri ( , ) is the capital city of Imo State in Nigeria, set in the heart of Igboland. It is also the state's largest city, followed by Orlu, Okigwe and Ohaji/Egbema. Owerri consists of three Local Government Areas including Owerri Municipal, ...
sacked Ikpeazu as Governor and declared
Alex Otti as the winner of the
2015 gubernatorial election held on 11 April and 25 April 2015. On 27 June 2016, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court,
Abuja ordered Ikpeazu to vacate his office as governor upon allegations of false information and forgery of documents prior to the 2015 gubernatorial election. The suit was however dismissed by a Federal High Court in Owerri. Okezie Ikpeazu ran for a second term under his party,
PDP and emerged the winner of the
election
An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office.
Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has opera ...
, hereby welcoming his second term as Governor of Abia State.
Contracts corruption allegations
In November 2020, the ''
Peoples Gazette
''Peoples Gazette'' is a Nigerian online newspaper based in Abuja. It launched in 2020. The online medium is notable for its investigative journalism, among other fields.
Launching
''Peoples Gazette'' was launched in 2020 by Samuel Ogundipe, a ...
'' released a report reviewing Abia State financial records from 2016 and 2017. The records showed a suspicious amount of government funds having been wired to associates of Ikpeazu and their companies, including an estimated ₦3.4 billion to three companies owned by
Enyinnaya Nwafor and ₦412 million in contracts to a company owned by Innocent Adiele.
Personal life
Ikpeazu is a member of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
See also
*
List of Governors of Abia State
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ikpeazu, Okezie Victor
1964 births
Living people
People from Abia State
Igbo politicians
Peoples Democratic Party state governors of Nigeria
University of Maiduguri alumni
University of Calabar alumni
Rivers State University people
Nigerian Seventh-day Adventists