Abia is currently experiencing tense moments as the governorship election petition tribunal, located in the state capital of Umuahia, is set to deliver its verdict today on the petitions filed against Governor Alex Otti by Ikechi Emenike of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Okey Ahaiwe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Tochukwu Maduka, SAN, acting as lead counsel for Emenike, the APC gubernatorial candidate in the March 18 election, has requested that the court remove Otti from his position. Emenike alleges that Otti did not resign from the APC before joining LP in 2022 and that his name was not registered with the Labour Party when he was nominated as their gubernatorial candidate for the 2023 election.
Emenike joined Ahaiwe of the PDP, Enyinnaya Nwafor of the Young Progressive Party, YPP, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as respondents in the suit.
Okey Ahaiwe of the PDP, who came second at the March 18 polls, is also challenging the victory of Governor Otti, praying the court to remove the governor and declare him as the real poll winner.
Ahaiwe presented his case through his lead counsel, Paul Ananaba, SAN, where he pleaded with the tribunal to consider the materials and arguments presented before it.
Daily Post reports that supporters in the camps of the three gladiators have been releasing several statements, some of which have been subjects of media war in the state since this week.
In March, the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Otti of LP as the duly elected governor of Abia, with 175,467 votes.
Ahaiwe of the PDP came second with 88,527 votes, while Nwafor of the YPP came third with 28,972 votes.