News
Abia: APGA Governorship Candidate Rejects Appeal Court Judgement Validating Ikpeazu’s Election
Published
6 years agoon
By
Editor
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance at the 2019 governorship election in Abia State , Alex Otti , has rejected the judgement by Owerri Division of the Court of Appeal which validated the electoral victory of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu .
Otti who is seeking the nullification of the election said that he was not satisfied with the judgment of the court .
The APGA governorship candidate in a statement issued by his media aide , Ferdinand Ekeoma, said he would pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.
The statement reads, “ On Saturday, the 17 th of November 2019 , a Governorship Appeal Court panel sitting in Owerri , Imo State , upheld the very controversial and questionable election of Dr . Okezie Ikpeazu as governor of Abia State .
“ While the Abia atmosphere was expectedly enveloped by another round of sobriety , sadness and sorrow , as a result of the judgement , Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and his men were celebrating in far away Lagos where hundreds of government officials had been flown to , for the reception of yet another deceitful , but mercantilist award used to hoodwink a non – performing government .
“ For the Ikpeazus, their oppressive and clueless government got yet another judicial imprimatur to consolidate the maladministration that has caused horrendous devastation in Abia state .
“True to the same path of ignominy and half smartness like his uncultured and ill- mannered aides who have been abusing and insulting Alex Otti before and after the Appeal Court Judgement , Okezie Ikpeazu hilariously urged Dr . Alex Otti to “ Respect the Will of the People ” which according to him , the judgement represents .
“ The issue of Okezie Ikpeazu defeating Alex Otti is a fallacious , baseless and an amusing misconception of some moribund minds who ignorantly think that Otti can condescend to their level of nothingness by responding to their insults and mischievous distortions aimed at rewriting our history in a way Ikpeazu ’ s grand mediocrity and nationally acclaimed failure in governance would be hidden from intelligent minds .
“ As our team of eminent lawyers thoroughly study the judgement to determine our next line of lawful action , we urge millions of devastated Abians not to be dampened , but to remain strong , resolute and faithful , even as we strive to ensure that the entrenched culture of consistent transfer of barton of leadership mediocrity in Abia is halted and broken for the sake of our suffering people . ”
He insisted that the election that announced Ikepazu governor in February was “ controversial and questionable ”.
Otti said that the governor had not done enough to uplift the sufferings of the people of the state and did not deserve a second term in office .
The APGA governorship candidate said that the appeal court judgment was greeted with sadness on the streets of Aba , Umuahia and other parts of the state .
He said that he was confident that APGA would get justice while his team of lawyers advises him on what next to do .
You may like

First female lawyer in the old Mid-West region, Grace Ogbemi, is dead.
She died in Lagos at the age of 89 just a week before her 90th birthday.
Before her death, she was a successful Itsekiri businessman and politician.
Born in Warri July 11, 1935 to Chief Reece Edukugho, Madam Grace Ogbemi was called to the English Bar in 1958, becoming the first female lawyer in the Mid-West Region, now Edo and Delta states.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Olubadan, Oba Olakulehin, Is Dead
She was a partner in the law firm of Godfrey Amachree Ogbemi & Co.
She got married to Franklin Ogbemi, a Chartered Engineer.
She died on July 5, 2025.
News
Why We Refused To Vote, Opted For Football – Lagos Youths
Published
55 minutes agoon
July 12, 2025By
Editor
While election officials and stakeholders made repeated calls for civic participation in the ongoing local government polls in Lagos, some young residents of Alausa, Ikeja, chose football over voting.
Between 9am and 2pm on Saturday, during the peak of the electioneering process, groups of youths were seen at three different spots in Alausa engrossed in football matches instead of heading to polling units.
When approached by our correspondent, many of them cited a lack of trust in the electoral outcome as the reason for staying away from the polls.
“You can’t force me to vote. I chose to play ball, and why will I vote?” said Ayomikun Ola, one of the youths.
READ ALSO: What May Change As Lagos Tenancy Bill Passes Second Reading
Another young man, Opeyemi Omoemi, was blunt in his response: “We all know that it’s the APC that wins all, as usual. So there is no need for me to disturb myself.”
Wasiu, also found on the field, said, “Bro, there is no need. I am satisfied with the football than the vote.”
Bayo, who joined the game, explained that he was underage. “I haven’t clocked 18, that’s why I didn’t vote. The best is to play football,” he said.
A young woman, Seriki Ganiyat, attending to customers at her shop nearby, said she could not afford to leave her business for the election.
READ ALSO: LASIEC Releases Validated Candidates’ List Gor Lagos LG Polls
“It’s not necessary. I have children to feed. Imagine if I had to leave my shop to go and vote. What for and what will my children eat this night?” she asked.
Their views reflect a broader pattern of low voter turnout and widespread apathy observed across many polling units.
At Polling Unit 003, Ward 7, only 61 out of 1,000 registered voters had voted as of 1:05pm.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Vote Counting Begins In Yaba
Similarly, at PU 007 of the same ward, only 30 people had cast their ballots by 1pm., while PU 031 had recorded just four voters out of 29 by 1:12 p.m.
At PU 026, only one voter had shown up out of 21 registered. PU 027 recorded just five votes from 62 registered voters by 1:43pm.
In Ward F, PU 011, 45 voters turned up from a total of 908. PU 085 had no votes cast at all by 1:45pm, despite having four registered voters.
Ward C’s PU 004, with 913 registered voters, recorded just 30 ballots as of 1:47pm. At Ward F, PU 036, only 50 out of 986 had voted by 1:51pm.
(PUNCH)

Vote counting has officially commenced at Polling Unit 024 in Ward B, Makoko area of Yaba, Lagos, marking the winding down of the 2025 local government election across the state.
However, the conclusion of the poll has been overshadowed by a pervasive low voter turnout, raising questions about the exercise’s overall impact.
“The lack of voter enthusiasm could impact the credibility and inclusiveness of the exercise,” an election observer noted, reflecting a sentiment shared by many watching the democratic process unfold.
READ ALSO: Lagos Police Deploys 30,000 Officers For LG Polls
This concern comes as officials at Polling Unit 002, located in the same Ward B, continued to await the arrival of voters even as counting began elsewhere.
Despite a generally peaceful atmosphere reported across various polling units, voter turnout remained significantly low in many parts of Yaba.
At Ward F, 012, situated along Iwaya Road, voting was still ongoing as of press time, with officials describing the turnout as notably lower than anticipated.
READ ALSO: LASIEC Releases Validated Candidates’ List Gor Lagos LG Polls
Similar reports echoed from other sections of Iwaya, where Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission officials observed a sluggish pace of voting activity throughout the day.
In contrast, Ward G at St. Timothy College presented a more active scene, with multiple polling units—including 001, 002, 003, 004, and 005—conducting voting in an orderly manner.
This provided a glimpse of the organised process, even amidst the broader challenges of voter engagement.
Election observers, while commending the largely calm and disruption-free process, reiterated their concerns that the palpable lack of voter enthusiasm could indeed impact the credibility and inclusiveness of the local government elections.
LASIEC officials have continued their efforts to encourage eligible voters to come out and cast their ballots before the scheduled close of voting at 3pm.
(PUNCH)
- First Female Lawyer In Mid-West Region Is Dead
- Why We Refused To Vote, Opted For Football – Lagos Youths
- JUST IN: Vote Counting Begins In Yaba
- Palestinian-American Beaten To Death By Israeli Settlers In Occupied West Bank
- Delta Community King Joins His Ancestors
- After Media Reports Of Locking Out Supporters From Govt House, Okpebholo Hits Security Personnel
- Edo Athletics Association Gets New Chairman; Charged To Bring In Fresh Ideas
- Edo Commits To Sports Development, Grassroots Talent Discovery – Enabulele
- Edo Deputy Governor, Others, bags Africa Peace Icon Award In Rwanda
- I Developed High Blood Pressure After I Discovered My Husband Had Another Wife — Wife
About Us
Trending
- Metro3 days ago
Mysterious Bird Found Inside Auchi Poly Lecturer’s Office, Killed
- News4 days ago
BREAKING: FG Officially Releases Age Limit For Admission Into Tertiary Institutions
- News4 days ago
OPINION: APC’s Leprosy Versus ADC’s Scabies
- Politics3 days ago
‘The Man I Defeated 32 Years Ago Hasn’t Forgiven Me’ – Ita-Giwa Laments Discrimination Against Women In Politics
- Metro23 hours ago
JUST IN: Psychiatric Hospital Staff Shot Dead In Benin
- Politics4 days ago
97 Lawyers Line Up To Defend ADC, Mark, Aregbesola Against APC’s ‘Fake Lawsuit’
- News2 days ago
‘I Feel Your Pain’ – Ighodalo Reacts To S’Court Verdict On Edo Guber Election
- News5 days ago
Obi In Benin, Donates N15m To St Philomena School of Nursing Sciences
- News3 days ago
Syncope Or Fainting: What You Need To Know
- Headline4 days ago
Full List: 3 African Countries Ranked Among World’s Best Countries