Abia governorship: APGA candidate Otti heads for tribunal

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, has filed a petition at the state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to challenge the outcome of the 2015 governorship poll in the state.

The election, which was declared in favour of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, is being challenged by Otti, over alleged irregularities during the election held on Saturday, April 11, and the subsequent supplementary election, held on April 25.

In the petition filed by his legal team, led by Chief Akin Olujimi,

SAN, Otti claimed that he was the winner of the governorship election, claiming that his mandate was stolen by the PDP.

Speaking with journalists after the petition was filed at the Federal High Court, Umuahia, venue of the election petition tribunal, the legal adviser to Otti’s campaign organization; Barr Kenneth Ahia, said that the petition was a continuation of the electoral process.

Ahia said that Otti filed the petition at the tribunal in order to recover the stolen mandate, adding that the election has not been concluded until the tribunal determines the eventual winner.

He said that the APGA governorship candidate approached the tribunal to seek justice on the grounds that the governorship poll was characterized by electoral malpractices, as well as non-compliance with the electoral guidelines.

Speaking further on the petition, Ahia said that Dr Otti is seeking the nullification of Dr Ikpeazu’s victory, as well as asking the tribunal to declare him (Otti) as the winner of the 2015 governorship election in the state, stressing that the Abia electorate voted for him.

Otti is also asking the tribunal to cancel the governorship election results as recorded in three local governments, namely Obingwa, Osisioma and Isiala Ngwa South, which were earlier cancelled by the returning officer during the collation of election results.

It will be recalled that the results from the three local government areas became contentious during the collation of results when the Returning Officer, Professor Benjamin Ozumba, cancelled them and later reversed his decision.