The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has declared Alex Otti of the Labour Party, (LP) winner of the Abia state governorship election.
Otti emerged winner after defeating his closest rival, Okey Ahiwe of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) at the elections conducted on the 18th of March, 2023.
Otti scored 175,467, Ahiwe polled 88,529 while Nwafor of YPP got 28,972.
The Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, Prof Nnenna Nnannaya-Oti declared Otti the winner on Wednesday evening at the resumption of the final collation of governorship election results in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.
Recall that INEC suspended collation of results in the state but resumed 48 hours later to make the announcement.
The last time the LP produced a governor in the last 20 years was when Olusegun Mimiko was elected Ondo State governor from February 2009 to February 2017.
Before the announcement, Nnannaya-Oti said she will do the right of the people and protect democratic values.
“I shall stand squarely and unapologetically on these principles. The people’s votes and mandate shall stand.
“The pastor and the mother in me will not permit me to do anything that will adversely affect the future of our children,” said Nnannaya-Oti, who is the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.