Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has reacted to the outcome of the state governorship election tribunal in his favour and against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC).
CityNews Nigeria understands that the duo of Okey Ahaiwe (PDP) and Ikechi Emenike of the APC had approached the tribunal with petitions challenging Otti’s victory in the just concluded governorship election where they were candidates of their various parties.
However, the Tribunal conveyed in Umuahia, the state capital, on Friday and dismissed three of the prayers brought forth by the candidate of the PDP and the APC, respectively and affirmed Otti’s victory.
The tribunal, which delivered its judgement at approximately 1:20 p.m., ruled that Ahaiwe’s case against Otti of the Labour Party (LP) lacked merit.
Reacting to the court victory in a statement issued later, Otti said he never entertained any level of fear over the lawsuits against his March 18, 2023, electoral victory.
Otti, in the statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Secretary, Ferdinand Ekeoma, assured the people of the state that the victory would spur him to serve them with greater zeal and passion, in appreciation.
“Even though we never entertained any atom of fear over the suit filed against us, going by the landslide victory we recorded at the polls, coupled with the sound submissions made by our team of erudite lawyers to defend our victory, I was, however, moved by the unprecedented show of love, support and solidarity from our people which is a manifestation of their appreciation of the modest achievements we have recorded so far, hence my resolve to serve them with greater zeal and passion,” the Abia State governor said.
Otti also thanked the Judges for their sound judgement, which, according to him, reflected what happened at the polls and what the majority of the people truly expected, maintaining that nothing enriches the legal jurisprudence and strengthens democracy more than dispensing justice to those who deserve it.
He called on his opponents to accept the judgement with humility and equanimity and join hands with him to work for the development of the state.
The Abia State Governor further promised to work for the overall well-being of all Abia citizens, irrespective of political party differences.
