There is palpable tension in Abia as the governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Umuahia, the state capital, will today give its judgement on the petitions against Governor Alex Otti, brought by Ikechi Emenike of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Okey Ahaiwe of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Emenike, who was the APC guber candidate in the March 18 election, through his lead counsel, Tochukwu Maduka, SAN, prayed the court to remove Otti from office, alleging that the governor did not resign his membership of the APC before joining LP in 2022.
He also alleged that Otti’s name was not in the Labour Party (LP) register when the party nominated him as its governorship 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.
