The governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Umuahia has upheld the election of the Labour Party candidate, Dr.Alex Otti, as the Governor of Abia State.
The three man tribunal headed by Justice H.T.D. Gwadah also dismissed the petition filed by Chief Okey Ahiwe and the Peoples Democratic Party challenging the outcome of the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the State which declared Otti as the Governor of the state, as lacking in merit.
Delivering judgement on the petition, Justice Gwadah who read the judgment, held that on the issue of which Otti was qualified to contest the election, the arguments are pre election matters which the tribunal lacked jurisdiction to entertain.
He also held that the petitioners failed to provide enough evidence to prove the allegation of forgery of NYSC certificate leveled against Otti, stressing that NYSC is not one of the criteria for disqualifying a candidate.
The tribunal further stated that no witness called by the petitioners spoke on documents tendered to prove their allegation of over voting, which made the documents to be of no evidential value.
The tribunal further held that the petitioners failed to prove their claim that the result of Obingwa LGA was taken to Abuja where it was allegedly manipulated and brought back to Abia.
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In an interview, Counsel to the petitioners, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwaogu, said they would study the judgement and decide on the next line of action with their client in line with the provisions of the law.
Also speaking, the chairman of the Labour Party in Abia State, Mr. CeeKay Igara described the judgement as a reflection of the will of the people who voted for Otti in the election.
PDP rejects verdict
The PDP has rejected the judgment of the Abia state governorship election petitions tribunal which upheld the election of Dr. Alex Otti as Governor.
In a statement signed by the state publicity secretary of the party, Elder Amah Abraham, the PDP said it is not surprised at the judgment because Otti and his supporters have been bragging that that the petitions of the PDP and APC that challenged Otti’s victory will be thrown into the trash bin.
“Such braggadocio was clearly subjudice and speaks to the infractions of the Nigerian law and the judicial process including the fact that Alex Otti and his men already knew the outcome of the judgment, ahead of today. It is our firm belief that the justices erred in their judgment.”
