Confusion as Court Sacks Governor-elect Of Abia, Alex Otti

VOICE AIR MEDIA News Update

A Federal High Court presided over by Justice M N Yunusa has nullified the candidature of the Abia State Governor elect Dr Alex Otti and all the candidates of the Labour Party in Abia State, Kano and the rest states in Nigeria for failing to comply with the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act.

The Court in Suit No FHC/KN/CS/107/2023 filed by Mr. Ibrahim Haruna Ibrahim against the Labour Party (LP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ruled that the failure of the Labour Party to submit its membership register to the INEC within 30days before their Primaries renders the process invalid.

“The party that has not complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act cannot be said to have candidate in an election and cannot be declared winner of an election this being so, the votes credited to the 1st defendant is a wasted Vote as the decision of the Supreme court” the Judge ruled.

A source close to the Abia governor-elect, however told our correspondent that he is not perturbed by the pronouncement, stressing that it is merely an exparte motion, without consequential effect. According to the source, Exparte motions are often granted by judges in extreme cases without the defendant being in court of being served necessary notice. It normally lasts for only 14 days after the party affected by the order has applied for the order to be varied or discharged.