Alex Otti wins in Abia as Labour Party’s first governor

Finally, Alex Otti, candidate of the Labour Party, has been declared winner of the governorship poll and governor-elect in Abia state.

Mr Otti polled 175,467 votes to defeat Okey Ahiwe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 88,529 votes, according to the electoral commission, Inec.

Inec declared Mr Otti the winner on Wednesday after it resumed collation of results for the March 18 governorship election in the state.

The commission had on Monday suspended the collation of results in the state after thugs invaded its office in Obingwa local government and took its officials hostage.

At the time, Mr Otti, a former bank executive, was already in the lead after garnering over 80,000 votes.

Mr Otti’s victory is the first confirmed governorship seat for the Labour Party which won the Feb. 25 presidential elections in all the five south-eastern states.

The party also led in Enugu before collation was suspended on Monday. The electoral commission said it has resumed the processing of results in the state. The declaration is expected in the coming hours.

– Residents celebrate

After the results were announced in Abia late Wednesday, residents danced in the streets in celebration of Mr Otti’s win, videos posted on Twitter showed. The south-east state has been under the control of the PDP since 1999.

Despite its huge commercial role, with its Aba market serving many states in the southern part of the country, Abia state has remained one of Nigeria’s most underdeveloped states.

Officials and supporters of Labour Party hailed the results on social media.

Doyin Okupe, former director general of the party’s presidential election council, wrote: “Congratulations Obidients,” using to the name Labour Party supporters identify themselves with. “Finally, we have received a consolation prize in the victory of Alex Otti in Abia state. Glory be to the most high God.”