The Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, the Imo State capital, has sacked the Governor of Abia State Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as governor of the state. The embattled governor quickly responded that he will challenge the judgment in the Supreme Court.
The Appeal Court in its judgment today, announced the main rival, Dr. Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), as winner of the election held on March 28, 2015.
Dr. Ikpeazu had been declared winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the verdict was upheld by the Abia State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia.
Otti, dissatisfied with the judgment of the Tribunal headed for the appellate court, which upheld his appeal and declared him winner of the ballot.
Dr. Ikpeazu said he will proceed to the Supreme Court to challenge the judgment.
The verdict of the Appeal Court has already sent the camp of Otti into a frenzy of jubilation throughout the state even as Governor Ikpeazu’s legal team is said to be working to head to the Supreme Court. [myad]
