Kinsmen of Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, want his main rival, Dr Alex Otti, to put behind him his experience in the 2015 governorship election in the state and congratulate their son on his victory at the Supreme Court.

They urged Otti to join hands with Ikpeazu to develop the state while advising the governor to equally consider his major challenger for any befitting appointment.

The kinsmen expressed this view in an interview with newsmen at Umuobiakwa in Obingwa Local Government Council at the weekend.

Ikpeazu and Otti have been locked in a fierce battle for the Abia governorship seat since April last year.

Ikpeazu was returned by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as winner of the governorship election held on April 11, 2015 but Otti went to the tribunal to challenge the result. He lost at the tribunal and proceeded to the Appeal Court, where he notched up temporary victory as the appellate court declared him winner of the polls and ordered INEC to issue him with a Certificate of Return.

Ikpeazu, however, challenged the Appeal Court ruling at the Supreme Court, which on Wednesday, February 3, restored his mandate by declaring him winner of the Abia guber contest.

Elated Ikpeazu’s kinsmen said with the victory, Otti should demonstrate patriotism by supporting Ikpeazu to work for the good of Abia

They maintained that Ikpeazu, being a humble man, would not let Otti down if he acts right in defeat by accepting the olive branch which the governor has offered him several times.

“Okezie bears no grudge against Alex Otti. It is Otti that has a case with God. Okezie trusted God hence his confirmation as the Psalmist said in Psalm 125 that ‘he who trusts in God is like the mountains of Zion that shall not be moved’,” said Azuogu Nwachukwu, Ikpeazu’s uncle.

Continuing, he said: “We will tell Okezie to embrace Otti when he sees him and if he finds whatever position he can give him in this state, let him do so to show him that his heart is pure.

“If you see Otti, tell him that Okezie’s uncle said he should send a congratulatory message to Okezie and embrace him because we know that Okezie will not let him down being a humble, god-fearing man.”

Nwachukwu said that the governor has been a humble and sincere person. “Since birth, Okezie’s name has been reflecting on his life, hence God made him the first Ngwa man to sit on the Abia State governorship seat. God has been helping him. People love him much and God has blessed him,” he said.

Coordinator of Okezuo Abia Vision, Ward 7 Chapter in Obingwa, Innocent Adindu, who concurred with Nwachukwu, said that they were very happy that the Supreme Court restored Abia people’s hopes after the fierce struggle for the position. Ihuoma Sylvanus, another kinsman of Ikpeazu, said the apex court’s ruling brought them unspeakable joy.

Sylvanus expressed optimism that Ikpeazu would be invaluable to both the Ukwa-Ngwa and the entire Abia State.

“Okezie is a humble man who helps the poor even when he was a lecturer and we know that he would be useful to Ngwa people and Abia people. Now that he has secured his seat, he will do more,” he said.

The governor’s kinsmen expressed gratitude to God for helping him to secure the Supreme Court victory and assured that he would continue working for Abians and even do more now that the legal tango is over.

•Photo shows Governor Ikpeazu taking the oath of office on may 29, 2015.