ABIA: Why PDP Should Not Take Alex Otti To Court - Party Chieftain, Kingsley Megwara

Recall that Otti was on Wednesday, March 22, declared the winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), having polled a total vote of 175, 467 to beat his closest rival, Chief Okey Ahiwe of the PDP who scored 88,529 votes.

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Following Dr Alex Otti's declaration as the governor-elect, the incumbent governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu congratulated him and charged other contesters not to go to court to contest the election result as it will only amount to distraction to the incoming administration.

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Few days after Governor Ikpeazu's advise, the Abia PDP in a statement signed by Elder Abraham Amah, the Abia PDP Vice Chairman/Acting State Publicity Secretary on Wednesday, March 29, said they were going to court to contest the election result.

According to the statement;

"This decision is coming on the heels of members of the Labour Party taking its own (PDP) candidates that won elections to court despite the honest and wise advise and appeal of the Abia State governor Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu that the winners of the election including the governor-elect, Alex Otti should be spared the burden of litigation which only serves to distract public officers from performing their duties and responsibilities.

Abia PDP is shocked to note that at a time when it is making arrangements for a seamless and peaceful transition for the new government, it is the same Labour Party that was declared the winner that is trying to torpedo the process."

Advising his party against their proposed litigations, Megwara in a statement issued on Thursday, said such move which he described as 'unnecessary', "will be counter productive to the PDP and a disservice, by extension, to the good people of Abia State".

He called on those pushing for litigations to have a rethink as it won't augur well for Abia State, adding also that the proposed court actions "does not capture the feelings or desires of majority of the PDP family in the State."

Megwara wrote;

My fellow members of the Abia State PDP

It is no longer news that the 2023 general elections in our dear State has come and gone and we now have a new incoming ruling party.

As good democrats, most of us have congratulated our brother, Dr. Alex Otti, and other non PDP elected officers and wished them well in the great tasks ahead.

On a personal note, I believe It will be counter productive to our party and a disservice, by extension, to the good people of Abia State, to subject the incoming administration to unnecessary litigations.

The PDP as a party has tried its best in the last 24 years but Abians have in one voice have settled for a change, as clearly shown through their overwhelming votes, and in their yearn for a better Abia.

Although a lot of factors (both internal and external) didn't help matters for our great party, but I believe, this, is not the time to start apportioning blames, for what is obviously, a collective failure.

I therefore, humbly, crave the indulgence of anyone or group engaging in actions, or inactions, that are capable of causing distractions to the incoming administration in the name of the People's Democratic Party, PDP, to have a rethink, as it won't augur well for our State, at large.

Recent statements credited to the leadership of our party in the State does not capture the feelings or desires of majority of the PDP family in the State.
We should rather invest our time to do critical post mortem on the just concluded elections and x-ray the reasons for our unimpressive performance.

I implore us all, in the spirit of good sportsmanship, to take responsibility for our great loss, and channel our energy and resources towards building, a strong, and credible opposition, which to a large extent will augur well for our State, and put the incoming administration on a part of constructive check.

Again, most members of the PDP in the State are committed to the ideals of our party which seek to better the lives of our people and would therefore frown at any plans to distract Dr. Alex Otti and his team.

We have the opportunity to challenge them in 2027, especially now that Abia voters have shown that they have zero tolerance for performance that is below their huge expectations.

To this end, I want to state unequivocally, that our great party, the PDP remains a formidable force, regardless, and can still in the nearest future reclaim it's people oriented status, especially as it relates to bringing the dividends of democracy and good governance back to the people.
We must put our house in order and start the much needed rebuilding and restructuring process.
Abians deserve much more from us. As such, we must be prepared to give them something to look forward to and redeem our current unimpressive image.

Once again, warm congratulations to Dr. Alex Otti.
Congratulations Labour Party faithfuls
Congratulations to the good people of Abia State.

Signed,
Chief Kingsley Megwara
Concerned Abian