The Supreme Court upheld the election victory of Alex Otti from the Labour Party (LP), confirming him as the duly elected Governor of Abia State. This ruling follows the apex court’s decision to reserve judgment on Wednesday in response to appeals from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), challenging Otti’s election.
Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, who delivered the lead judgment, pointed out that the appellants, Okechukwu Ahiwe and the Peoples Democratic Party, failed to substantiate their claims. Justice Abba-Aji asserted that Otti was qualified to contest the election, and there was no substantial non-compliance affecting the legitimacy of the election.
The Supreme Court affirmed the concurrent decisions of the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal, conclusively validating Alex Otti’s position as the legitimate Governor of Abia State. The court is now set to deliver its judgment on another appeal filed by the APC and its candidate, Ikechi Emenike, challenging Otti’s election.
With this ruling, the legal disputes surrounding the governorship election in Abia State have reached a conclusion, establishing Alex Otti as the rightful governor.
