APGA rejects tribunal judgment upholding Ikpeazu’s election

 

 

• Says chances of going on appeal high

 

BY JOEL OGBU

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has described as regrettable the judgment of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Umuahia, which Friday upheld the victory of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of PDP, as announced by INEC, in the March 9, 2019 gubernatorial election in Abia State.

The tribunal dismissed a petition brought before it by APGA and its candidate, Dr Alex Otti, asking the tribunal to cancel the result of elections in 15 out of the 17 Local Government Areas of Abia State and order fresh elections in the disputed areas.

Ikpeazu, Otti know fate as Abia Governorship Petition Tribunal delivers judgment Friday

Abia State APGA chairman, Hon Nkem Okoro, who spoke to RELIABLESOURCENG.COM, said his party believed that the tribunal had not done a good job of the petition it presented before it and as such would wait for its lawyers to brief party executives formally on the outcome, before taking a decision on the way forward.

“We do not accept the judgment of the Abia governorship tribunal. We believe that the tribunal has not done a thorough job. But for now, the tribunal has ruled and it’s the law,” Okoro declared.

He added: “Our lawyers are going to obtain the judgment and brief us before we take the next step. We have 14 days to do that, but we are glad we have two more levels (Appeal Court and Supreme Court), in the pursuit of our case.

“We are in no way discouraged. Our spirit remains very high and I can tell you it’s the same with our candidate.

“This battle is about the deliverance of Abia State from the hands of those who have held it captive, for the past over 20 years. It is not just about Alex Otti becoming governor or APGA taking over power.

“It is about development of the state; it is about the welfare and well-being of the people – the teachers, health workers, civil servants, pensioners, the elderlies, the youth, the unemployed, traders, all of us who have been at the receiving end of PDP’s misrule in Abia State.”

Asked whether the party and its candidate will appeal the judgment, the chairman said: “The chances of going on appeal is very high and as such we advise our opponents not to celebrate too soon.”