SUPREME COURT AFFIRMS ELECTION OF GOV OTTI

REPORTER: IFEOMA NWOVU

The Supreme Court has dismissed appeals by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Mr. Okey Ahiwe, in the March 18, 2023 governorship election.

The appeal had challenged the December 2, 2023 decision of the Court of Appeal Lagos, which upheld the election of Alex Otti of the Labour Party (LP) as the governor of Abia state.

Mr. Ahiwe and the PDP had claimed that Otti was unqualified to run for the election as he was not a registered member of the LP.

They added that the governor forged his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.

However, the Supreme Court, in a lead judgment by Justice Uwani Musa Aba-aji, dismissed the appeal by the APC and its candidate, Ikechi Emenike, in the March 18, governorship election in Abia State.

In a unanimous judgment, the panel held that Emenike’s appeal lacked merit and amounted to an abuse of court process.

The Lagos State division of the appellate court in a unanimous decision had held that the election of Dr. Otti conformed with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU