Victor EzejaThe Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has finally declared the Labour Party governorship candidate in Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, winner of the governorship election held on Saturday, 18th March 2023.
Dr Otti was declared the winner of the election by INEC’s returning officer in Abia, Professor Nnenna Oti, on Wednesday afternoon.
According to Professor Oti, who is the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Otti polled 175, 467 votes to defeat his closest rival, Chief Okey Ahiwe, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 88,529 votes.
Enyinnaya Nwafor of the Young Peoples Party (YPP), scored 28,972 votes to take the third position.
Otti won in 10 out of the 17 local government areas in the state, while the PDP’s Chief Ahiwe won in six LGAs. Nwafor of YPP won in one LGA.
INEC had on Monday suspended the collation of results in both Abia and Enugu States following reports of alleged manipulations of results in some parts of the states.
The Commission said the suspension was to enable it to review the collation process.
It, however, announced the resumption of collation in both states earlier today.
Professor Oti had in the midst of the political controversy that ensued between the PDP and the Labour Party over the collation of the Obingwa LGA result, promised to do the right thing in line with democratic principles to ensure that the people’s mandate as reflected in their votes stands.
“I shall stand squarely and unapologetically on these principles. The people’s votes and mandate shall stand.
“The pastor and the mother in me will not permit me to do anything that will adversely affect the future of our children,” Professor Oti had said.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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