The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia state has refuted the claim made by Governor-elect, Dr. Alex Otti, that the Kano Federal High Court judgement that nullified his election was orchestrated by the party and the Abia State Government. In a press statement released by the Abia PDP Vice Chairman/Acting State Publicity Secretary, Hon. Elder Abraham Amah, the party stated that the court judgement was not instigated by them.
The court had sacked the Abia Governor-elect and other candidates in the state elected under the platform of the Labour Party, over non-compliance with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s regulations on submitting membership registers. The Abia PDP has, however, denied taking Otti and his party to court in Kano but disclosed that it has filed a petition against him at the Abia State Election Petition Tribunal. The party is exploring legal options to recover its mandate.
The PDP has urged people of Abia state to remain calm and peaceful as they await the judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal. The court ruling has nullified the candidature of Otti and all the other candidates of the Labour Party in both Abia and Kano States.
Meanwhile, Otti had described the report of his sack as misleading, baseless, and unfounded, stating that it is being sponsored and circulated by the PDP and the Abia state government. The court ruled that the failure of the Labour Party to submit its membership register within the stipulated 30 days before the primaries rendered the entire process invalid. Consequently, the votes credited to the party are seen as wasted votes, and they cannot be declared winners of the election.
The Abia PDP has made it clear that it did not take the Governor-elect and his party to court in Kano and is only awaiting the judgment of the Election Tribunal to fully address the issue.
