Supreme Court on Tuesday nullified the election of Emeka Ihedioha and declared Senator Hope Uzodinma winner of the March 9 Governorship election in Imo state.
The appellant Senator Uzodinma contended that he scored the highest number of votes in the election, but the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) returned Emeka Ihedioha as the Governor of the State
The apex court declared that the votes due to Senator Uzodinma was unlawfully excluded from the 318 polling units and be added to his votes.
In a unanimous decision by the 7 man panel delivered by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the submissions of a Principal witness who was on a subpoena to present results held that the lower court was wrong in its ruling.
Justice Kekere-Ekun, while reading the lead judgment, declared that Senator Uzodinma is the validly elected Governor and the certificate of return issued to Ihedioha be withdrawn.
Meanwhile, candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), Uche Nwosu, withdrew a second appeal filed against the election of Emeka Ihedioha.
According to his counsel, Mr. Solomon Umoh (SAN), the withdrawal on Tuesday is based on the judgment of the apex court delivered on the 20th of December 2019.
More so, it’s worthy to note that the APC candidate, Hope Uzodinma came 4th in March 9 Governorship election in Imo state as declared by INEC:
1ST – Emeka Ihedioha PDP scored a total votes of 273,404.
2ND – Uche Nwosu of AA – 190,364.
3RD – Ifeanyi Ararume of APGA – 114,676.
4TH – Hope Uzodinma APC – 96,458.
