The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia has dismissed all petitions by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Okey Ahiwe, and his party against the election of Governor Alex Otti, of the Labour Party, (LP).
The tribunal, which delivered the judgement yesterday, dismissed Ahaiwe’s case for lack of merit.
Recall that Ahaiwe had challenged the declaration of Otti as the duly elected governor by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).
In his prayers, through his lawyer, Paul Ananaba, (SAN), Ahaiwe had urged the court to remove Otti and declare him the winner. The PDP candidate said the electoral victory of Otti did not conform with Section 77 of the Electoral Act, among other prayers.
However, the tribunal threw away all the requests, for lacking in merit.
Meanwhile the PDP, Abia State, has rejected the judgement of the tribunal which upheld Otti’s victory. In a statement signed by its State’s Publicity Secretary, Elder Amah Abraham, the party stated that it is not surprised at the judgement because Otti and the Labour Party have been bragging that the petitions of the PDP and the other party that challenged Otti’s declaration as winner of the 2023 Abia governorship poll would be thrown into the trash bin.
The PDP governorship candidate in the election, Chief Okey Ahiwe, has urged his supporters to remain calm as there is no cause for alarm over the verdict.
In an issued statement by his Media Adviser, Victor Nwokocha, Ahiwe commended his supporters and legal team and assured that there is no cause for alarm regarding the verdict of the tribunal as truth will always triumph.
Expressing confidence in the Judiciary, the PDP candidate assured that his legal team would examine the verdict of the tribunal and advise on his next line of action.
