Labour Party’s Alex Otti has been declared the winner of Abia governorship poll.

Mr Otti, a retired bank executive, emerged victorious over the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Okey Ahiwe, in the March 18 exercise, according to returning officer Nnenna Oti.

Mrs Oti, the vice-chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Owerri, said Mr Otti polled 175,467 votes to defeat his PDP main rival, who polled 88,529.

Eyinnaya Nwafor of the Young Peoples Party came third with 28,972 votes. when the results were announced in the capital Umuahia.

The result gives the Labour its first victory in the 2023 election and the second governorship victory since Olusegun Mimiko used the platform to be elected in Ondo.

Mr Otti’s victory also ended the grip PDP has held on Abia since Nigeria returned to civil rule in 1999.