Otti didn’t resign from APC before contesting on LP platform – Witnesses tell Tribunal

By Sola Omoniyi, Lagos

Following the ongoing governorship election petition tribunal, two witnesses have said that Governor Alex Otti had not officially resigned from his membership in the All Progressives Congress (APC) before running for the governorship position under the banner of the Labour Party (LP).

The witnesses made the revelation during the proceedings at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Umuahia.

Friday Ugorji, who holds the position of Chairman in Ward 5, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area (LGA), testifying as PW2 in the governorship election petition lodged by Chief Ikechi Emenike of the APC, said Alex Otti’s name remained at the top of the ward’s APC party register.

According to him, “Alex Otti left the APC without due process and did not submit any resignation letter.”

The Director of Records, Documentation and Mobilization of the APC, Engr Alozie Macsolomo, spoke in the same vein. He is PW3 and affirmed that Otti did not resign from the APC as provided by the Electoral Act.

The witness referred the tribunal to paragraph 10 of his written deposition which he had earlier adopted in the witness box.

Tochukwu Maduka, SAN, the chief counsel representing the petitioner, has concluded presenting their case.

However, the tribunal, in response, has scheduled a recess until Tuesday, August 8, 2023, when the respondents will commence their defence proceedings.