Court of Appeal Upholds Governor Alex Otti’s Election Victory, Dismisses PDP and APC Appeals

Court of Appeal in Lagos has delivered a unanimous decision, dismissing the appeals brought by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside their respective governorship candidates against the election of Governor Alex Otti of Abia State.

In the ruling on Saturday, the three-man panel of the Appeal Court affirmed Governor Otti’s victory at the polls, stating that it adhered to the provisions of the Electoral Act.

The appellate court declared the petitions brought by the appellants lacked merit, describing them as akin to “a comedy skit brought to a democratic setting.”

It emphasized that issues related to political party membership constitute a pre-election matter, falling within the jurisdiction of the political party.

Addressing Governor Otti’s qualification to contest, the court noted that since Otti joined the Labour Party, won its primary election, and submitted his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), he was deemed qualified to participate in the election.

Regarding the concerns raised by the PDP and its candidate about the Bimodial Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the appeal court remarked that the appellants failed to establish a connection between their documentary evidence and specific aspects of the case.

The judgement has ignited celebrations among Governor Otti’s supporters in various parts of the State, marking a significant legal victory for the governor and reinforcing the legitimacy of his election.