Appeal Court sacks Abia governor Ikpeazu

Appeal Court sitting in Owerri, the Imo State capital, yesterday nullified the election of Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

It declared Dr. Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as the winner of the election, which was conducted last year.

The court held that Otti scored the highest valid votes of 164,332 as against 114,444 scored by Ikpeazu.

Delivering the judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Oyebisi Omoleye, ruled that there were established cases of over-voting and allocation of votes in favour of the PDP candidate in three local government areas of Isi-Alangwa, Osisioma and Obingwa.

She ruled that the court decided to council the election in the three council areas as a result of the anomalies.

The judge said: “After subtracting the votes from the Isi-Alangwa, Osisioma, Obingwa, the PDP candidate is left with a total votes of 114,444, while the APGA candidate has 164,332 votes and should be returned as the rightful winner of the election. Subsequently, the judgment of the tribunal, which upheld the election of the PDP candidate, is hereby set aside.”