The Abia State PDP 2023 governorship candidate, Chief Okey Ahiwe has responded to the judgement of the Supreme Court which, in its ruling on Friday, January 12, 2024 on the appeal brought by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the declaration of Dr. Alex Otti by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the duly elected governor of Abia State in the 2023 governorship elections, affirmed the declaration of Dr. Alex Otti as the duly elected governor of Abia State.
It would be recalled that following the said declaration by INEC, Chief Ahiwe and the PDP had approached the Abia State Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia to challenge the declaration, and subsequently went to the Court of Appeal, Owerri Division sitting in Lagos, to challenge the verdict of the Tribunal which upheld the INEC declaration. Dissatisfied with the ruling of the Court of Appeal that upheld the Tribunal verdict, they headed to the Supreme Court as the final arbiter in the judicial process.
Reacting to the judgement of the Supreme Court, Chief Ahiwe appreciated God for sustaining him, and thanked his family, supporters, leadership and members of the Peoples Democratic Party, his able legal team led by Professor Paul Ananaba, friends, associates and Abians in general for standing by him through the challenging period of elections and protracted legal battle.
In his words, “We went to court in an objective exercise of our rights and our collective conviction, and now that the Supreme Court has delivered judgement, it is time to move ahead and embrace other prospects for the future. I therefore congratulate Dr. Alex Otti and wish him God’s guidance in the discharge of his duties.”
Chief Ahiwe while praying for the success of Abia State, called on all Abians to continue to be peaceful and law abiding, emphasizing that the future always holds greater promises and nothing can be achieved where there is no peace.
Victor C. Nwokocha, ANIPR
Media Adviser to Chief Okey Ahiwe
January 12, 2024
