By Anayo Okoli

UMUAHIA—ABIA State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia has affirmed Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  as properly elected during the  April 11 governorship polls.

Delivering judgment that lasted two hours in the petition brought before it by Dr. Alex Otti of All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA,  chairman of the three man panel of Justices, Justice Usman Bwala said that the petitioner failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt, the allegations of criminality and over voting in three local government areas.

According to Justice Bwala, the petitioner’s prayer for the cancellation of the results of the election in three local government areas of Osisioma, Obingwa and Isiala Ngwa North based on the grounds that the returning officer for the election in the state had earlier cancelled them but later reversed himself was not substantiated.

The tribunal also faulted the petitioner for praying that he be declared winner of the election which result he said the returning officer cancelled, saying it was contradictory.

“The petitioner cannot ask for cancellation and at the same time want to be declared winner”, and dismissed the petition, saying, “the petition failed and is hereby dismissed” but awarded no cost against the petitioner.

In his reaction to the judgment, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu thanked God and the entire people of Abia state for their support for him, saying that the judgment would give him the impetus to develop the state faster.

“What happened today was that the tribunal affirmed our victory because we were declared winners since May. I thank God for the victory and Abia people for their support. Victory today is victory for Abia and victory for service.

“There is no victor, no vanquished, as it is a victory for all. I want to call on those who lost to come forward and join hands with us to develop the state to an enviable height”, the Governor said.

But in his reaction the National Chairman of APGA, Dr. Victor Oye described the judgment of the tribunal as what the party had long expected.

“We never expected to get judgment from the members of the tribunal,” Oye said.