- Affirms APC’s Uzodinma As Governor
By Hamilton Nwosa, Head, The New Diplomat’s Poll Tracking Desk
The Supreme Court on Tuesday voided the election of Emeka Ihedioha’s as the governor of Imo State.
A seven-man panel of the apex court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad, unanimously declared Hope Uzodinma as the winner of the March 9, 2019 governorship election and the validly elected governor of the state.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who read the lead judgment, ordered that the certificate of return issued to Ihedioha be immediately withdrawn.
She also directed that Uzodia must be immediately sworn in as the Governor of Imo State.
Recall that in Imo State concern among residents of the State particularly, in government circles had escalated as the Supreme Court prepared to rule on the governorship election For both the APC and PDP supporters, there had been no love lost. Both camps have been sounding war drums.
It has essentially been a titanic battle between Senator Hope Uzodinma of the APC and Governor Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP. Both APC and PDP supporters had been optimistic of victory.
The APC’s optimism was said to have been re-inforced by the prediction of Rev Father Ejike Mbaka who predicted recently that Uzodinma would assume leadership of the state from the incumbent PDP-led government led by Governor Ihedioha. Mbaka who said he could not put his fingers on how his prophesy would happen had provoked criticism from PDP supporters. PDP supporters had accused the Cleric of being an unrealistic prophet.