TheCable

Okezie Ikpeazu, governor of Abia, has urged the gubernatorial candidates of other parties in the state not to distract Alex Otti, the governor-elect, with court cases.

Otti polled 175,467 to defeat Okey Ahiwe, his closest rival and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 88,529 votes.

In a statement by Onyebuchi Ememanka, his chief press secretary, Ikpeazu called on members of other parties to give Otti an enabling environment to run the affairs of the state from May 29.

The governor said having spent about three and half years in different courts, he knows the distraction such cases can cause a leader.

“I appeal to every candidate in this election not to distract the incoming administration with court cases, so that they will settle down and deal with the very demanding business of governance,” he said.

“Let us break this negative trend of subjecting our governors to endless litigations and allow them to concentrate on providing good governance.”

Ikpeazu commended Otti for his doggedness, saying he fought a long battle.

“Since we have come to the logical end of this battle, it is appropriate to congratulate the winner, Dr Alex Otti on his hard-fought victory,” Ikpeazu said.

“In every battle, there will always be a winner and in the spirit of sportsmanship and love for our state, the governor-elect must see his victory as a higher call to service to the people of Abia state.”

He also congratulated other candidates who took part in the election for their doggedness.

Ikpeazu said he would put in place every necessary measure to ensure a seamless transition from the present administration to the incoming one.

The outgoing governor contested for the Abia south district senatorial seat but was defeated by Enyinnaya Abaribe, the incumbent, who ran on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).