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Otti Gives Ikpeazu’s Ex-aide Seven Days to Retract Defamatory Post
Abia State governor, Alex Otti, has asked one Mr. Eze Chikamnayo to “retract each of the cocktail of malicious online defamatory publications” he recently made against the governor on his Facebook wall and to pay Dr. Otti N100billion compensation within seven (7) days or face a defamation court action.
Otti made the demand through his consultant counsel, Dr. Sonny Ajala (SAN).
Ajala served Chikamnayo the letter on Thursday, October 2, 2025, demanded the following on behalf of Dr. Otti:
“1. Written retraction on your Facebook Wall titled Iyierioba Chikamnayo of each of the cocktail of the malicious online defamatory publications against our client on your Facebook Wall titled; Iyierioba Chikamnayo on 22/9/2025, 21/9/2025, 14/9/2025, 13/9/2025, 9/9/2025, 15/8/2025 and 21/7/2025 enumerated above and the said retractions to be further published in four national dailies to wit; the Thisday Newspaper, the Punch Newspaper, the Nation Newspaper and the national Ambassador Newspaper.
“2. Written APOLOGY from you to our client to be published/circulated on your Facebook Wall titled Iyierioba Chikamnayo for each of the cocktail of the malicious online defamatory publications against our client on your Facebook Wall titled; Iyierioba Chikamnayo on 22/9/2025, 21/9/2025, 14/9/2025, 13/9/2025, 9/9/2025, 15/8/2025 and 21/7/2025 enumerated above.
“3. Compensation of N100Billion (One Hundred Billion Naira) to our client, for your cocktail of false and malicious online defamatory publications against our client on your Facebook Wall titled; Iyierioba Chikamnayo on 22/9/2025, 21/9/2025, 14/9/2025, 13/9/2025, 9/9/2025, 15/8/2025 and 21/7/2025 as enumerated above for the gross erosion of the reputation of our client before the right thinking members of the public, good people of Abia State that elected our client their Governor in 2023, our clients colleagues in the financial sector and his political associates.
“4. Cease and desist forthwith from writing, authoring, sharing, forwarding defamatory publications of all descriptions on your Facebook Wall titled; Iyierioba Chikamnayo together with any other social/digital platforms concerning the person and office of Dr. Alex C. Otti, OFR.”
The letter also gave notice that should Barrister Eze Chikamnayo “fail, refuse and/or ignore to comply with the demands within SEVEN (7) days from the delivery of the letter to his Facebook Wall, titled; Iyierioba Chikamnayo and his Phone number/Whatsapp;0818-193-3333 respectively, “we shall without further recourse to you seek legal redress for the appropriate remedy against you for your malicious online libelous publication against our client graphically recounted herein.”
British Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Keir Starmer on Monday announced his resignation, bringing an abrupt end to a premiership that began with Labour’s landslide general election victory in July 2024.
Starmer made the announcement in a statement outside 10 Downing Street, where he reflected on his time in office and defended his record in government.
“Every decision I have made has been about putting the country I love first,” Starmer said as he confirmed he would step down as both prime minister and leader of the governing Labour Party.
The resignation marks a dramatic political development in the United Kingdom, coming barely two years after Starmer led Labour back to power following more than a decade in opposition.
His departure is expected to trigger a swift leadership transition within the party at a time of heightened political uncertainty.
Addressing supporters gathered outside Downing Street, Starmer described entering No. 10 in 2024 as “the proudest moment” of his life, saying he entered politics with the goal of improving the lives of millions of people.
The outgoing prime minister also highlighted what he considered some of his key achievements, including rebuilding the Labour Party after years of internal divisions and restoring public confidence in the party’s economic and national security credentials.
Starmer said he inherited a Labour Party that was “politically, financially and morally bankrupt” and faced repeated predictions that it was finished as a political force.
He argued that his leadership helped transform the party, including efforts to tackle anti-Semitism and reposition Labour as a credible alternative government.
His resignation has immediately intensified speculation over his successor. Attention has turned to Andy Burnham, who recently won the Makerfield by-election and is due to be sworn in as a Member of Parliament.
Political observers and Labour insiders believe Burnham could emerge as the overwhelming favourite to take over the party leadership. Some party members are already discussing the possibility of a “coronation” process in which Burnham becomes the sole candidate, avoiding a prolonged leadership contest.
If that scenario unfolds, Labour could have a new leader and prime minister in place by September, around the time of the party’s annual conference.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Biodun Oyebanji, winner of the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election.
Oyebanji secured a landslide victory, polling 319,224 votes to defeat his closest challenger, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr. Wole Oluyede, who garnered 40,543 votes. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Dare Bejide, came a distant third with 12,872 votes.
The election, held across all 16 local government areas of the state, was overshadowed by reports of irregularities and widespread allegations of vote buying, drawing strong condemnation from observers.
The official results were announced on Sunday morning by the Chief Returning Officer, Professor Adenike Oladiji, who declared Oyebanji duly elected after meeting the constitutional requirements.
In her declaration, Professor Oladiji stated: “I, Professor Adenike Oladiji, hereby certify that I am the Returning Officer for the Ekiti State Governorship Election held on June 20, 2026, and that the election was conducted in compliance with the provisions of the law. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of valid votes cast, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected.”
Source: Reuters
