Hope rises for Otti at election tribunal

The Abia State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, has given all parties in the matter up till Thursday next week to file all their motions, warning that no other motions would be acceptable after the next sitting.

Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Usman Bwala, Abia State, who handed down the order on Thursday, fixed July 10 and 13 for the pre-hearing of the petition filed by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Dr. Alex Otti, against the victory of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

Otti, who is seeking the nullification of Ikpeazu’s election, also wants the tribunal to declare him the winner of the governorship election. The order gives him relief as it will check unnecessary delay of trial on the matter.

Counsel for Otti, Chief Awa Kalu (SAN), had during the sitting, withdrawn a petition he had earlier filed which sought an order of the tribunal to enable Otti inspect all the materials used in the election. He lamented that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was making the inspection of the materials too cumbersome.

On his part, Counsel for Ikpeazu, Chief Chibuike Nwokeukwu, said that he had filed a motion urging the tribunal to strike out Otti’s petition “for incompetence.” He said Otti’s claims that he was being denied access to electoral materials were aimed at whipping up unnecessary sentiments.

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