What is the ruling of Islamic law regarding one who prefers the love of Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) over all other Companions?

Loving Ali ibn Abi Talib is an act of nearness [to Allah], while hating him or disparaging him is a sin and hypocrisy. It has been authentically established through sound narrations that Allah and His Messenger loved Ali, and the books of the Ahl al-Sunnah are full of his virtues. A Muslim should accord people their rightful stations in love, and the dearest people to the Prophet, peace be upon him, were Abu Bakr and Umar, then Uthman, as is well-known. Let the believer's criterion be following the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and let him beware of disparaging any of the Companions or diminishing their status.