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By Emmanuel Adeleke
Abia State Governor-elect, Dr. Alex Otti, has urged the people of the state not to panic over the ruling of a Federal High Court in Kano State.
Recall that a Federal High Court in Kano had on Thursday nullified the candidature of Otti and all Labour Party candidates in Abia and Kano States.
The court, in its judgment held that their emergence did not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended).
Reacting, Otti told residents of Abia State that the purported judgement should not be a cause of concern, as it is an unjust decision that cannot undermine the will of the people.
Otti, who spoke with newsmen in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, said arrangements for his swearing-in on May 29 are going on as planned, declaring that the antics of the enemies of democracy cannot truncate the will of Abia people.
He said there is no cause for alarm over the “kangaroo judgement.”
Also, the Labour Party Chairman in Abia State, Hon. Ceekay Igara, described the court’s pronouncement as laughable.
According to him, the decision of the court would have no significance in the forthcoming inauguration of the governor-elect.
Igara added that only the election tribunal has the power to sack a democratically elected person.
“That court pronouncement is laughable. Everybody should go about their normal activities. It is only the tribunal that can remove Alex Otti.
“It is not just a court that will remove someone who was duly elected. In fact I am going to gear up activities for the inauguration,” he said.