Abia guber: Tribunal dismisses PDP’s petition against Otti

The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia on Friday struck out the petition filed by the PDP candidate, Chief Okechukwu Ahaiwe, challenging the election of Gov. Alex Otti of the LP.

The three-member panel, in its almost four-hour judgement, read by Justice G.T.D. Gwada, dismissed the three grounds raised by the petitioner as lacking in merit.

The tribunal, in a unanimous decision, held that the petitioners failed in their attempt to convince the panel that the election was marred by irregularities and not conducted in substantial compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, beyond reasonable doubt.

It further ruled that the issue of whether Otti was qualified to contest or whether the LP’s Governorship Primary was not duly conducted “were entirely party affairs and, therefore, the tribunal lacked jurisdiction”.

The tribunal also held that the petitioners were unable to prove beyond reasonable doubt their allegations that Otti did not score the majority of the lawful votes cast and that the election was marred by corrupt practises and irregularities.

Supreme News reports that the judgement was delivered in the Federal High Court Room, amidst the heavy presence of security personnel.