Abia PDP appeals for calm as A’Court affirms Otti’s victory

The People’s Democratic Party, Abia State chapter, has appealed to its members and supporters to remain calm, adding that its leadership is meeting with the governorship candidate, Okey Ahiwe and his running mate and legal team to review the judgement of the Appeal Court that affirmed Alex Otti as the winner of the March 18, 2023, Abia governorship election.

A statement by Elder Abraham Amah, Abia PDP Vice Chairman/acting State Publicity Secretary, said the party’s confidence in the judiciary “is strong as the last hope of the common man and one of the strongest pillars of the country’s democracy.”

He added, “We call on members of the PDP, our numerous supporters and sympathisers and the good people of Abia State to remain steadfast, calm, peaceful, law-abiding and put our hope and trust in God and the judiciary as we explore the options available to us.

“We also call on the good people of Abia who have been suffering under the bad policies of Alex Otti to know that the PDP would never abandon them.”

In a similar statement, Victor Nwokocha, Media Adviser to Chief Okey Ahiwe said that his principal had asked Abia people not to panic while expressing deep gratitude to God and his numerous supporters across political party lines, his dynamic legal team, family, friends, and well-wishers.

Ahiwe was quoted to have said, “When we embarked on the journey to reclaim our mandate through judicial processes, it was a calculated resolution and we were conscious that the journey would not be a sprint but a peculiar marathon with inevitable twists and turns.

“Our destination was clearly defined from the onset, and our focus is unchanged. So, at this juncture, our faith in God is renewed, as well as our solid confidence in the judiciary. I therefore encourage all my supporters to stay calm, keep praying to God, and look beyond the eclipse of transitional sunset.”

Ahiwe while extolling the courage and tenacity of his legal team, urged his supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding, assuring that his legal team would diligently study the judgment of the Court of Appeal, and advise on critical options to guide him and the leadership of the PDP in taking a decision.