In a resounding affirmation, the Supreme Court has re-established Governor Alex Chioma Otti of the LP as the duly elected and returned Governor of Abia State, upholding the earlier dismissals by the tribunal and Appeal Court regarding petitions against INEC’s declaration of the LP candidate. The Apex Court, in its judgment, emphasized the inviolability of internal party matters and the inability of candidates from other political parties to challenge the membership or nomination of a candidate within another party.
The tribunal and the Court of Appeal had previously dismissed both petitions, affirming INEC’s declaration of Governor Otti as the legitimate winner of the 18th March Governorship poll. The Supreme Court, in re-affirming this decision, clarified the jurisdictional boundaries regarding party matters.
The Apex Court asserted that matters of membership and nomination fall squarely within the internal affairs of a political party. Furthermore, it categorically stated that candidates from one political party cannot challenge the nomination or membership of a candidate from another political party, underscoring the autonomy of party processes.
A crucial aspect of the Supreme Court’s ruling emphasized the principle that an appeal against a concurrent finding of fact in the lower courts cannot be overturned. This legal precedent, articulated by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji JSC, solidifies the consistency and reliability of decisions rendered by lower courts in matters of fact.
Governor Alex Chioma Otti’s reaffirmation as the elected Governor of Abia State reflects not only the validation of his electoral mandate but also the Apex Court’s commitment to preserving the internal affairs and decision-making processes of political parties. The ruling carries significant implications for the interpretation of jurisdiction and the limits of legal challenges in matters related to party nominations and memberships.
