Tribunal upholds Ikpeazu’s election as Abia Governor

The Abia State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, the state capital, has upheld the victory of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who was candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the April 11 election.


The tribunal in a ruling delivered on Tuesday dismissed the petition of candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in that election, Mr. Alex Otti.
Chairman of the three-man panel Justice Usman Bwala said the petitioner, Dr Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt, his allegations of criminality and over-voting in three local government areas of the state.

Bwala said the petitioner’s prayer for the cancellation of results from Osisioma, Obingwa and Isiala Ngwa North councils because the returning officer cancelled them was not substantiated.
The chairman said Otti’s plea that the election be cancelled and he be declared winner,  is contradictory, noting that the petitioner cannot ask for a cancellation and still want to be declared winner.
Bwala said ‘’the petition failed and is hereby dismissed, and no cost will be awarded,” .
Reacting, APGA’s National Chairman Dr Victor Oye said the judgment was long expected.
Oye appealed to party supporters to remain calm, saying: “Since we have failed to get judgment at the tribunal in Umuahia, we will proceed to Abuja to retrieve our mandate.”
Governor Ikpeazu described the judgment as victory for all. He thanked God and the people for their support, saying the victory would give him the impetus to fast-track development of the state.
“There is no-victor, no-vanquished; it is a victory for all. I call on losers to join us in developing this state to an enviable height”.
Mixed Reactions
PDP faithful were jubilating as APGA’s supporters faulted the judgment.

In Aba North and South councils, happy crowds gathered to celebrate as early as noon when the news filtered into town.

A PDP supporter, Augustine Iroegbu, lauded the tribunal its “sound and unbiased judgment”, saying the tribunal’s pronouncement showed that “there are judges who can look at a case thoroughly and give judgment without fear or favour.”

But a chieftain of APGA, Chief Ahamdi Emmanuel Nweke, said: “It is a rape on our democracy and an aberration of justice. If there was ever a case of justice turned offside and the blind lady representing the scale of justice being stabbed in the chest, it is this case.

“That is no judgment; it is a continuation of money for justice syndrome. We saw it at the State and National Assembly tribunal; their decisions were a mockery of justice. We are going to appeal and there is no doubt we will recover our mandate”.

A combined team of policemen and other security agencies paraded the streets of Aba as part of measures to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
portfolios, by Buhari