Supreme Court Upholds Alex Otti’s Election as Abia Governor

In a landmark ruling on January 12, 2024, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has upheld the election of Alex Otti as the Governor of Abia State.

The apex court dismissed the appeals filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), who had challenged Otti’s victory in the March 18, 2023 governorship election.

The five-member panel of the Supreme Court, presided over by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, unanimously ruled that the PDP and APC lacked the legal authority to contest Alex Otti’s nomination by the Labour Party (LP).

The court emphasized that the issues surrounding the nomination and sponsorship of a candidate in an election are internal affairs of a political party, which the law forbids courts from meddling in.

Furthermore, the Supreme Court held that even if Otti’s name was not on the membership list of the LP, the PDP and its candidate had no locus standi to challenge the matter in court.

The court also rejected the argument that Otti did not run for office as an independent candidate, saying there was no question that a political party had nominated and sponsored him.

With this ruling, Alex Otti’s position as the Governor of Abia State has been firmly established, putting an end to the legal challenges brought by the opposition parties.

The decision of the Supreme Court has been met with jubilation in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, as supporters of Governor Alex Otti celebrate the confirmation of his electoral victory.