The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has issued a challenge to the newly elected Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, following his claims that the recent Kano Federal High Court judgment that removed him from office was a deliberate plot orchestrated by the PDP and Abia State Government. In a press release, the Abia PDP Vice Chairman/Acting State Publicity Secretary, Hon. Elder Abraham Amah, addressed the judgment and clarified the party’s stance on the matter.
The Federal High Court in Kano rendered a judgment that nullified the victory of Dr. Alex Otti and other candidates from the Labour Party (LP) in Abia State. The court cited the LP’s failure to submit its register of members to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) within the stipulated 30-day period before conducting primaries, a requirement for candidates’ eligibility to contest elections in Nigeria. Mr. Ibrahim Haruna-Ibrahim had filed the application seeking to revoke the certificate of return issued to all LP candidates in Kano and Abia States. The court, relying on the provisions of the amended 2022 Electoral Act, granted the application.
The Abia PDP, in their press release, clarified that they had not initiated any legal action against the Abia Governor-elect and the Labour Party in the Federal High Court in Kano. However, as a responsible political party, the Abia PDP acknowledged the judgment and instructed its legal team to analyze it thoroughly. Additionally, the Abia PDP has filed a petition against the Abia Governor-elect and the Labour Party at the Abia State Election Petition Tribunal. The party is exploring legal avenues to reclaim what they believe is their rightful mandate.
In light of these developments, the Abia PDP called for calm and peace among the people of Abia State, assuring them that they have confidence in the Election Petition Tribunal’s judgment. They expressed their belief that justice would ultimately prevail.
Meanwhile, Dr. Alex Otti, through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, dismissed the reports alleging that the Kano High Court had invalidated his election. Otti labeled the claims as baseless, unfounded, and misleading, asserting that they were being disseminated by the PDP and Abia State Government.
The Kano Federal High Court, in Suit No FHC/KN/CS/107/2023 filed by Mr. Ibrahim Haruna Ibrahim against the Labour Party and INEC, ruled that the failure of the Labour Party to submit its membership register to INEC within the specified period rendered the entire process invalid. The judge contended that a party that failed to comply with the provisions of the electoral act could not be considered to have a valid candidate in an election and therefore could not be declared the winner.