Governor Ikpeazu wins

Governor Ikezi Ikpeazu of Abia State has extended an olive branch to his defeated opponent, Alex Otti, after the Election Petitions Tribunal dismissed the petition filed by the APGA candidate, Otti, for not proving his petition beyond reasonable doubt.

Ikpeazu reacted shortly after his victory at New Presidential Lodge, Government House, Umuahia. He added that his victory in the April 2015 polls has given him further impetus to develop Abia.

Ikpeazu asked Otti to join hands with him in order “to take the state to the next level of development.” He assured that the victory is for all Abians.

The governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Umuahia High court earlier today upheld the election victory of Ikpeazu. Delivering the judgement which lasted for over two hours, the tribunal Chairman, Justice Usman Bwala, averred that the petitioner failed to prove cases of irregularity which he said marred the election beyond reasonable doubt, therefore he dismissed the matter for lack of verifiable evidence. He added the petitioner called 20 witnesses and that during cross examination, the principal witnesses could not prove the alleged bribery, noting that in law, it is stated that he who exerts must prove.

The three- man panel therefore upheld the victory of Ikpeazu while it turned down the petition filed by the petitioner. The tribunal therefore thanked all and sundry for the support given the panel while its assignment lasted.

Also reacting , P C. Onyegbu commended the governor for his victory which he described as divine noting that stakeholders of Abia resolved even before the April polls that power must shift to Abia South that has not produced governor before, little wonder Abians voted massively for Ikpeazu who is from the said zone.

Hon Onyegbu called on the opposition to join hands with the government to move the state forward.