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Abia State News Special Report

ABIA: Tribunal Trash APC/Emenike's Petition, Upholds Gov. Otti's Victory | SEE GROUNDS OF JUDGEMENT

Faith Ukanwa

Oct 06, 2023

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The executive governor of Abia State has gained a second victory as the governorship election petition tribunal also affirmed his victory in the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and it's governorship candidate, High Chief Ikechi Emenike.

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Giving ruling in the petition filed by APC and Ikechi Emenike, against Alex Otti and 6 others, a member of the panel, justice Omolara Adeyemi, on behalf of the tribunal, dismissed the petitioners allegation that the 3rd (Alex Otti), 5th (Okey Ahiwe), and 7th (Enyinnaya China Nwafor) respondents were not qualified to contest the March 18, 2023 governorship election, on the grounds that membership of a political party and candidacy were internal affairs of a party which the tribunal does not have jurisdiction over.

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*the membership and sponsorship of a candidate for any election, is an internal affair of the party" the tribunal ruled.

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The tribunal held that since the first petitioner (Emenike) is not a member of the second (Labour Party), fourth (PDP), and sixth (YPP) respondents, he does not have the legal right to question their candidacy as only members of a party who had contested a position and were dissatisfied could do so.

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"anybody challenging the nomination of a governorship candidate and aspirant during the primary elections that produced the candidate is a meddlesome interloper" the tribunal said.

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According to the election tribunal, the petitioners abandoned their allocation of non compliance with the provisions of the electoral act by not calling any evidence with respect to any of the polling units it complained about where over voting allegedly took place to prove their allegation against INEC.

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Speaking to ALL FACTS NEWSPAPER, AFNEWS after the judgement, a representative of the legal team of the APC and Emenike, Barrister Fabian Okonkwo said they will appeal the judgement.

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"We are waiting to receive the judgement. We will take it up to the supreme court" he vowed.

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Counsel to Governor Alex Otti, Mr. Abiodun Owonikoko, SAN, lauded the tribunal for serving justice, noting that the Governor can now concentrate fully on the task of developing the state.

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Also speaking, the Labour Party state chairman, Mr Ceekay Igara, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, Hon. Iheanacho obioma (Chomen), all welcomed the victory and extended an olive branch to the opposition to join hands with governor Alex Otti to make the state better as he has already started a good work.

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— Faith Ukanwa

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