Governorship Election Petition Tribunal: Arrest Those Instigating Terror — Abia Govt Urges FG

Abia State Government has called for the arrest of those allegedly instigating terror in the state ahead of the judgement of the state governorship election petition tribunal scheduled to hold 6th October 2023.

The state government in a statement through the Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma said some individuals suspected to have been hired by opposition elements are instigating crisis in the state.

According to him, the individuals had alleged that Governor Alex Otti was using Abia Funds to sponsor the litigation of the LP Presidential candidate in the last Presidential Election, Mr. Peter Obi.

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He also said the so-called sponsored elements in a second press conference alleged that the four-month-old Government of Dr. Alex Otti is sponsoring the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to cause terror in the state.

According to Ekeoma, “They went further to call for the Governorship election judgement billed for 6th October 2023 not to be delivered in Abia because the Abia state Government had allegedly concluded plans to intimidate the Justices to deliver judgement in favour of Governor Alex Otti or alternatively would ensure that the Judges would be killed if they fail to deliver judgement in favour of the Governor.

“Because these allegations are weighty and have the propensity to cause disaffection, insecurity, breakdown of law and order, and even endanger the lives and property of innocent citizens, we strongly and most respectfully make the following demands and submissions:

“1. That His Excellency the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), the Chief of Army Staff, the National Security Adviser and the Inspector General of Police should kindly use their good offices to cause an immediate and thorough investigation into these allegations.

“2. That the young men who organised these press conferences should be invited by security agencies to come and throw more light on their allegations to enable law enforcement agents carry out thorough investigations that could lead to the arrest of culprits.

“3. That Governor Alex Otti’s position as Governor of Abia state is a product of a nationally celebrated Governorship election victory, hence we consider it a demeaning insult and a provocative blackmaill for a group of greedy hatchet men with zero stake in the Abia project to sit behind the microphone and spew gibberish that lowers the office of the Governor of Abia state while insulting the sensibilities of our people who have heaved a sigh of relief since the emergence of Governor Alex Otti.

“4. The hate, anger, bitterness and the trademark of terror contained in the text of the press conference and on the facial expression of the accusers showed a despicable design to subject the government and people of Abia state to public opprobrium.

“5. The two opposition parties that are in court against Governor Otti and who are suspected to be the brains behind these allegations know very well that they have terrible cases and that their suits would be thrown into the thrash bin on the 6th of October, hence the resort to this panic and desperate strategy of deceit and destabilisation. They should be exposed and punished for chosing the perfidious path that seeks to advance their selfish interest against the genuine interest of millions of innocent Abians.”