John Okiyi Kalu, the Abia state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, has blasted the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Alex Otti, and that of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Uchechukwu Ogah, over their decision to challenging the outcome of the just concluded 2019 gubernatorial election in the state.
He claimed that the resolve of the duo to challenge Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s victory in the election tribunal, was another evil machination to slow down the development of the state.
Kalu vowed that no amount of gimmick and media propaganda by the oppositions, would deter Ikpeazu-led government from bringing democratic dividends to the doorsteps of Abians.
DAILY POST had reported that Alex Otti, the APGA governorship candidate, had filed a petition challenging the declaration of the Peoples Democratic Party candidate and incumbent Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, as winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
A copy of the petition made available to newsmen in Umuahia, on Thursday, quoted Otti as asking the tribunal to cancel the results of 15 local government areas in Abia, which he(otti)claimed, were marred by over voting, and order for rerun.
The Abia Commissioner, who made this known on Saturday, while reacting to the litigations challenging the re-election of Governor Ikpeazu for a second term, said, “When will acrimonious post-election litigations end in Abia State? Maybe we should start questioning the motive and patriotism of those who have decided to start another round of post-election litigations in Abia State. Do they hate to see a progressive Abia State or actually seek to punish the people of Abia State for not voting for them?
“After a hard fought Anambra Governorship election in 2017, the losers decided to shelve going to court to enable the incumbent settle down and work for their people. Some of those now in court in Abia State praised their patriotism and proceeded to put out Anambra as a model state in terms of development. Same happened in the just concluded election in Bauchi and Lagos States where those who lost congratulated the winners shortly after the polls. Were better polls conducted in those states compared to Abia or did the opponents of the winners come from heaven?.
“It is too late for me to advise Otti or Ogah not to approach the tribunal to ventilate whatever they term their grievances. They are already at the tribunal and, lawyers, mostly non Abians, are smiling to the banks through them already at the expense of the common Abian.
Kalu questioned, “Who knows who is giving the duo fake assurances in Abuja or pushing them to destabilize their state for whatever reason? All I wish to appeal to them is to confine their challenge to the courtrooms and leave the media space alone. They can litigate their matter for 3 years quietly without the usual noise and propaganda that help to destabilize and polarize our people.
“At the end of the litigations, I am confident Governor Ikpeazu will defeat his opponents and the people of Abia State will respond to the litigants. I do not need a survey to know that majority of Abians wish that we do not go through another rancorous litigation process but selfishness will never allow our politicians to calmly listen to the people and work together for the common good.
“One fact is settled in my mind, there can only be One Governor at a time in Abia State and that Governor is already there till 2023: Dr Okezie Ikpeazu. No tribunal or court in Nigeria will ever pronounce Uche Ogah and Alex Otti joint winners of the Governorship election in Abia State. It does not matter how many meetings they hold at night or joint press conferences they call to gang up against the incumbent. Abia voters have spoken already,” he said.
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