Appeal Court affirms Otti as Abia governor

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti

The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos has affirmed the victory of Governor Alex Otti of the Labour Party (LP) in the March 18 gubernatorial election in Abia State.

The appellate court, on Saturday, December 2, 2023, dismissed a petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Okey Ahiwe, seeking to nullify the election of Otti as governor of Abia State.

Ahiwe had approached the appellate court after losing an earlier legal challenge at the Abia State Election Petition Tribunal, which upheld Otti’s victory.

The PDP gubernatorial candidate had alleged that Otti was unqualified to contest the poll and forged academic credentials.

But the three-member panel of the Appeal Court, on Saturday, declared that Ahiwe failed to provide sufficient evidence debunking the substantive decision of the tribunal.

Ahiwe, while speaking on the judgement via his media aide, Victor Nwokocha, said his legal team will thoroughly review the verdict of the Appeal Court and consult party leaders on the next step.

The PDP candidate, who urged his supporters to keep calm, said: “When we embarked on the journey to reclaim our mandate through judicial processes, it was a calculated resolution and we were conscious that the journey would not be a sprint but a peculiar marathon with inevitable twists and turns.

“Our destination was clearly defined from the onset, and our focus is unchanged. So, at this juncture, our faith in God is renewed, as well as our solid confidence in the judiciary.

“I therefore encourage all my supporters to stay calm, keep praying to God, and look beyond the eclipse of transitional sunset.”

The Star