We Didn’t Institute Any Case Against Alex Otti ~Abia PDP.
The People’s Democratic Party PDP Abia State Chapter, has denied instituting any case against the Abia Governor-elect and the governoship candidate of Labour Party in the March 18 governoship election Dr Alex Chioma Otti in Kano State.
Recall that a federal high court in Kano had on Friday May 19th sacked Dr Alex Otti and other candidates elected under Labour Party in Abia State and Kano over their failure to submit their membership register to INEC in 30days before the Primaries.
According to Justice M.N Yunusa, the presiding judge in the case which was filed by Mr Ibrahim Haruna Ibrahim against Labour Party the Independent National Electoral Commissioner INEC, ruled that the failure of Labour Party to submit their membership register to INEC in 30days before their primaries makes all the nominated candidates invalid as it is against the INEC 2022 act.
In its response, the Vice Chairman and Acting Publicity Secretary of PDP in Abia State, Hon Elder Abraham Amah in a press statement made available to our heritage reporter said that the Abia State PDP has no time instituted any case against the Abia Governor-elect and the Labour Party in Abia state.
According to him,Abia State is aware of the situation and has mandated it’s legal team to study the judgement and know where the party will come in.
He also confirmed that the Abia State PDP has already filed an appeal to the Abia state governoship election Petition Tribunal as the party is exploring other legal means to recover it’s mandate.
The Statement Reads:
SACKING OF ABIA GOVERNOR-ELECT AND OTHER LABOUR PARTY CANDIDATES IN ABIA STATE BY A FEDERAL HIGH COURT IN KANO*
The attention of the Abia PDP has been drawn to a judgement by a Federal High Court in Kano which sacked the Abia State governor-elect and other candidates elected under the platform of the Labour Party in Abia State on the ground that their Party did not submit its register of members to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, 30 days before the conduct of its primaries, one of the requirements for candidates to be eligible to contest elections in Nigeria.
One Mr Ibrahim Haruna-Ibrahim, had filed an application seeking the court to revoke and set aside the certificate of return issued to all LP candidates declared winner in Kano and Abia States and the judge relying on the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act (As Amended) granted the prayer made by Mr. Harun Ibrahim.
The Abia PDP wishes to clarify to the good people of Abia State and Nigerians that it did not institute any case against the Abia governor-elect and the Labour Party in a Federal High Court in Kano.
However, as a responsible political party, the Abia PDP is aware of the judgement and has mandated its legal team to study the judgement.
The Abia PDP has already filed a petition against the Abia governor-elect and the Labour Party at the Abia State Election Petition Tribunal and is exploring legal options that would enable it to recover its mandate.
We urge the good people of Abia State to remain calm and peaceful as we await the judgement of the Election Petition Tribunal and we are very sure that justice would be served at the end.
Signed
Hon. Elder Abraham Amah
Abia PDP Vice Chairman/Acting State Publicity Secretary.
