Civil societies describe Abia Appeal Court judgment as unfair, perverse

A Coalition of Civil Societies for Credible Election has described recent judgment of the Court of Appeal setting in Owerri, the Imo State capital, which declared Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance as the winner of April 2015 election in Abia as very unfair, grossly perverse and ought not to be allowed to stand.

In a statement jointly signed by Onuoha Oliver E. and Kalu Prince Aroha, co-ordinator and secretary, respectively, the group said if such judgment was allowed to stand, it meant that a large number of voters had been disenfranchised in the three Local Government Areas of Osisioma, Isiala Ngwa and Obingwa which Appeal Court Cancelled votes cast there before delivering judgment in favour of Alex Otti.

It noted that as a civil society organization, this controversial judgment flied on the face of the country’s collective march towards a people- oriented democracy.

“It goes further to empowered candidate in any election, to invite any court to cancel elections in areas where he/she performed badly on lacks support and uphold only where he/she comfortable or has support” the group said. It further observed that the said judgment of the Appeal Court denied Okezie Ikpeazu, the declared winner of the April 2015 election the eight to even vote for himself adding that the third was worrisome and disturbing.

It noted that it was the duty of civil society groups to draw the attention of members of society and authorities of the adverse consequences of this ugly development on their efforts towards a proper democratic culture.

It finally expressed optimism that judiciary as the last bastion of hope for the common man would be made good and in favour of Isiala Ngwa North, Obingwa and Osisioma Local Government Areas of Abia by making their votes already cast to count in the determination of who governs them.