Hope Uzodinma declared as Imo state governor

Hope Uzodinma declared as Imo state governor

 

The apex has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue certificate of return to Uzodinma immediately.

 

The Supreme Court on Tuesday nullified the governorship election of Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State, declaring Hope Uzodinma as the rightful winner of the exercise.

 

The apex has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue certificate of return to Uzodinma immediately.

 

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who read the lead judgment, ordered that the certificate of return issued to Ihedioha be immediately withdrawn and directed that a fresh certificate of return be issued to Uzodinma.

 

Kekere-Ekun said Uzodinma must be immediately sworn in as the Governor of Imo State.

 

According to Justice Kekere-Ekun, with the results from the 388 polling units added, Mr Uzodinma polled a majority of the lawful votes and ought to have been declared the winner of the election by the independent national electoral commission, INEC.

 

The new tabulation therefore voided and set aside the declaration of Mr lhedioha as the winner of the 2019 governorship election.

 

“Vote due to the appellant Senator Hope Uzodinma and the APC from 388 Polling Units were wrongly excluded from scores ascribed to the appellant(to them).

 

“It is thereby ordered that the appellant votes from 388 Polling Units unlawfully excluded from the appellant vote declared shall be added and that the first respondent, Emeka Ihedioha, was not duly elected by a majority of lawful votes cast at the said election,” she said.

 

“His return as the elected governor of Imo State is hereby declared null and void and accordingly set aside.”

 

“It is hereby declared that the first appellant (Mr Uzodinma) holds the majority of lawful votes cast at the governorship election held in Imo State on March 9, 2019.”

 

The judge said Mr Uzodinma has satisfied the mandatory constitutional requirement.

 

“It is hereby declared that first appellant, Senator Hope Uzodinma is the winner of the governorship of Imo State held on March 9, 2019.

 

“The certificate issued to the first defendant (Mr Ihedioha) is hereby withdrawn.

 

“It is hereby ordered that the certificate of return shall be issued to the first appellant, Senator Hope Uzodinma, forthwith and he should be sworn in as the governor of Imo State,” she ruled.

 

The Supreme decision was at variance with the Court of Appeal ruling which on November 19 affirmed the victory of Mr Ihedioha as the duly elected governor of Imo State.

 

In that other ruling, a five-member panel of the court led by Oyebisi Omoleye delivered the judgement following the appeals filed by the Action Alliance, the All Progressive Grand Alliance and the All Progressives Congress challenging the election of the governor.

 

The three appellants argued that Mr Ihedioha did not obtain the constitutionally required one-quarter of the votes cast in at least two-thirds of the 27 local government areas of the state, as provided under Section 179 of the Constitution, and asked the court to set aside the decision of the election petition tribunal, which had ruled in favor of Mr. Ihedioha, and declare them the winner of the election or or order a rerun.

 

Before today’s ruling at the Supreme Court and September 2019 judgment at the Court of Appeals, the three appeals had filed a petition against the judgment off.

 

The Imo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had upheld the election of Mr Ihedioha.

 

But the candidates of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Ifeanyi Ararume; the Action Alliance (AA), Uche Nwosu and the All Progressives Party, Hope Uzodinma, disagreed with the judgement and approached the Appeals Court.

 

They asked the Court of Appeal to void the election of Mr Ihedioha on grounds that he did not obtain the constitutional one-quarter of the votes in at least two-thirds of the 27 local government areas of the state, in line with Section 179 of the Constitution.

 

But the Appeals Court disagreed with them and upheld Ihedioha’s election. The three appellants then approached the Supreme Court which on Tuesday declared Hope Uzodinma the winner and sacked Ihedioha.

 

Imo is one of the 36 States in Nigeria, and is in the south east region of the West African country. Owerri is its capital and among the largest town in the State. Its other notable towns are Orlu, Obowo, Oguta, Mbaise and Okigwe. Located in the south-eastern region of Nigeria, it occupies the area between the lower River Niger and the upper and middle Imo River.

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About TEMI BADMUS

Temi Badmus is a Food scientist and an Art enthusiast. She is an health freelancer, and media Manager. She is a humorous and controversial writer, who believes all form of writing is audible if it's done well. Temi Badmus specializes on indigenous food nutrient research and values. She believes in reaching out to people with health decline through articles and giving advice on good eating habit.

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