NBA Calls On INEC To Declare Alex Otti Winner Of Abia Guber Election
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abia state chapter, on Tuesday, charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to declare Dr. Alex Otti, of the Labour Party as the winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the state without further delay.
Addressing newsmen, the NBA led by it’s state chairman, Barrister Jasper Ejimofor, stated that INEC has no justification to continue delaying the declaration of Otti as the winner as he is leading with over 90,000 votes margin from the sixteen Local Government results declared so far.
The Association warned INEC against trampling on the democratic right and decision of Abians, adding that such may result to disruption of the peace beine enjoyed in the state.
Speaking on the controversial Obingwa Local Government result, Barrister Ejimofor, stated that the LGA has about 27,000 registered voters according to INEC’s data and will not make any difference to the ‘victory of Otti”.
The Association said;
“As a professional body desirous of ensuring justice, unity, peace and stability of the state, we cannot stand alof at this point in time especially when it is obvious that there are moves to trample on the democratic right of Abians and prevent them from having the person they have unanimously voted for as their governor.
“The overwhelming evidence emanating from INEC indicates that the Labour Party governorship candidate, Dr. Alex Otti has won the governorship election with a very wide margin.
“Since INEC has already declared 16 LGAs and the Labour Party candidate is leading with over 90,000 votes and the remaining local government of Obingwa has less than 27,000 accredited voters as captured in INEC’s data, there are no justification why INEC should continue to delay the declaration of Otti as the winner of the election.
“The delay in declaring the true winner of the election is causing unnecessary tension in the state and this tension could snowball into serious crisis and breakdown of law and order.
“We therefore enjoin INEC to declare Dr. Alex Otti of Labour Party as the winner of the governorship election to save the state from the avoidable disaster that is looming.
“We also call on the president of Nigeria , INEC National Chairman, the National body of the Nigerian Bar Association , NUJ, CSOs, heads of security agencies and other respected institutions to intervene and prevent the bloodbath this could lead to”.
