Mixed reactions trail tribunal governorship verdict in Abia

Some residents of Umuahia residents have expressed mixed feelings over the upholding of the election of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu by the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Abia. NAN reports that Dr Alex Otti of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) had challenged the victory of Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). While some told NAN that it was a welcomed development, others expressed surprised that the ruling was in favour of Ikpeazu. Mr Obinna Christian, a businessman, said that he had hoped that “the tribunal’s ruling will pave the way for the opposition to govern the state’’. Christian said that he was hopeful that the strong opposition put up by All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) would make the present government to be proficient. Mrs Roseline Ogbonna, a trader, said, “the information we always get about the tribunal is that the matter will be favourable to the APGA candidate. “However, today’s ruling has proven otherwise and the people have to accept it,’’ Ogbonna said. A civil servant, Mr Emeka Emenike, said that “there have been speculations by people concerning the governorship election judgment’’. Emenike said that it was refreshing to know that the matter had been settled so that the current government could focus on its plans for the state.