S/Court nullifies election of Ihedioha, declares Hope Uzodinma Imo Gov.
Hope Uzodinma and Emeka Ehedioha
The Supreme court has nullified the victory of Emeka Ihedioha and has declared Senator Hope Uzodinma validly elected Governor of Imo state.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Tanko Muhammad had earlier led a seven-man panel of justices of the apex court hearing four separate appeals that arose from the March 9 governorship election in Imo state.
Parties had adopted their briefs of argument in the case that was brought against Ihedioha by candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Ifeanyi Ararume.
Dan Orbih In his appeal marked SC/1461/19, Ararume prayed the apex court to nullify Ihedioha’s election on the premise that he was not the valid winner of the governorship election.
In the brief of argument, he adopted through his team of lawyers led by Mr Yusuf Alli, SAN, Ararume, contended that Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, did not secure the highest number of valid votes cast and the constitutionally required spread, to be declared the winner. Cited as respondents in the appeal he filed on December 13, were the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Ihedioha and the PDP.