By Uche Mbah
In a new twist that has in recent times become the hallmark of the Supreme Court, the Apex Court Tuesday sacked Imo state Governor Emeka Ihedioha and enthroned Hope Uzodinma as the winner of the 2019 governorship elections. They, expectedly, reserved reasons for the judgement for a later date.
In a Unanimous Judgement by the seven member Supreme court justices headed by Justice Kudirat Kekere Ekun, they insisted that the result of 388 polling units were wrongly excluded from the election by INEC, and that they ought to have given Hope Uzodinma the victory.
“The votes due to the appellant, Hope Uzodinma and the All Progressives Congress (APC) from 388 polling units were wrongly excluded from scores ascribed to them,” she said.
“It is hereby ordered that Emeka Ihedioha, was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the said election. 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 (Uzodinma) holds the majority of lawful votes cast at the governorship election held in Imo State on March 9, 2019, and 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“The certificate issued to the first respondent (Ihedioha) is hereby withdrawn. It is hereby ordered that the certificate of return shall be be issued to the first appellant, senator Hope Uzodinma, forthwith and he should be sworn in as the governor of Imo state.”
They have used the same method in the Atiku vs Buhari case in the final run of the Presidential election Tribunal.
The Supreme Court has been making a run for time in the various cases before it in recent times, and appears to be overwhelmed by the number of cases. The case was postponed from Monday to Tuesday after two judges fell sick during the sittings. they were later to be replaced.
Fiery father Ejike Mbaka had prophesied the taking over of Imo government house by Hope Uzodinma, but critics have averred that he must have had privileged information given his closeness to the seat of power.
After the judgement, the Imo state e government house was reported to have been under lock and key. The state is said to be in a somber mood.
