Nullification of Otti’s victory won’t stand – Yunusa

….it’s laughable – Abia LP chair

Tanko Yunusa, the chief spokesperson of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has said that the Federal High Court judgement nullifying the candidature of Alex Otti, the Governor-elect of Abia State, will not stand.

According to DAILY POST, Yunusa on Friday  explained that the court lacks jurisdiction to hear the electoral matter.

Details emerged on Friday that a Federal High Court sitting in Kano nullified Otti’s candidacy and all the candidates of the Labour Party in Abia and Kano States because their emergence was not in compliance with the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act.

However, Yunusa said there is no cause for alarm because the legal team of the Labour Party is already working to appeal the judgement.

He said the judgement is the work of the opposition party, noting that the will of Abians will stand.

“The judgement will not stand because the Federal High Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain an electoral matter. It is within the jurisdiction of the electoral tribunal. I believe this is the work of the opposition party; however, the will of the Abia people will stand”.

Also reacting to the ruling, the Labour Party Chairman in Abia State, Hon. Ceekay Igara, said the court’s “pronouncement is laughable”.

According to him, the decision of the court would have no significance in the coming inauguration of the governor-elect.

Igara reportedly said only the election tribunal is bequeathed the power to sack a democratically elected person.

He said, “That court pronouncement is laughable. Everybody should go about their normal activities. It is only the tribunal that can remove Alex Otti.

“It is not just a court that will remove someone who was duly elected. Infact I am going to gear up activities for the inauguration”.

In the March 18 governorship election, Otti polled 175,467 votes to win the election.