Appeal court affirms Otti as Abia Governor, likens PDP, APC petitions to “comedy skit”

• In a unanimous decision on Saturday, the three-man Appeal Court panel upheld the victory of Otti at the polls
• The justices ruled that the election was in tandem with the provisions of the Electoral Act

The Court of Appeal in Lagos State has upheld the last gubernatorial election in Abia State, affirming Alex Otti as the duly elected governor of the state.

This is as the appellate court dismissed the appeals brought by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their governorship candidates against the election of Otti in the South Eastern State.

In a unanimous decision on Saturday, the three-man Appeal Court panel upheld the victory of Otti at the polls.

The justices ruled that the election was in tandem with the provisions of the Electoral Act, adding that that petitions brought by the appellants lacked merit.

The the appellate court equated the petitions to “a comedy skit brought to a democratic setting”.

The court asserted that issues of political party membership is 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 Bimodial 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.

The judgement has sparked celebration among the supporters of Governor Otti in some parts of the State.