Abia guber poll: PDP heads to Supreme to challenge Otti’s Appeal Court’s victory

The Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has headed to the Supreme Court to challenge the judgment of the three-man panel of Appeal Court judges that validated the election of Alex Otti as the validly elected governor of the state.

The Nation had reported that the three-man judges of the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos at the weekend dismissed appeals brought before it by candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Okey Ahiwe and All Progressives Congress (APC), High Chief Ikechi Emenike for lack of merit.

In a unanimous decision, the three-man Appeal Court panel upheld the victory of Otti at the polls, saying that it conformed to the provisions of the Electoral Act.

The appellate court ruled that petitions brought by the appellants lacked merit, as they were like “a comedy skit brought to a democratic setting”.

The court said issues of political party membership are a pre-election matter, which also falls within the jurisdiction of the political party.

It further said since Otti joined the Labour Party, won its primary election, and submitted his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), he was qualified to contest.

On the issues of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) brought by the PDP and its candidate, the appeal court said the appellants failed to demonstrate or link their documentary evidence to the specific parts of the case.

However, the PDP after reviewing the judgment disclosed through their spokesman and vice chairman Abia North, Hon. Abraham Amah that it doesn’t agree with the Lagos Appeal Court ruling.

The PDP while insisting that their matter has merit, expressed optimism that they will get favourable judgment at the Supreme Court.