The Supreme Court on Tuesday nullified the election which saw Emeka Ihedioha Of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, as the governor of Imo State, declaring Hope Uzodinma, of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Governor instead.
In a unanimous decision arrived at, by a seven-man panel of the apex court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad, The Court 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, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to immediately withdraw the certificate of return issued to Ihedioha adding that Mr Uzodinma polled a majority of the lawful votes and ought to have been declared the winner of the election by INEC.
She further directed that a fresh certificate of return be issued to Uzodinma.
She also directed that Uzodinma must be immediately sworn in as the Governor of Imo State.
“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),” the justices ruled.
“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.”
“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 justice said Mr Uzodinma has satisfied the mandatory constitutional requirements to be declared governor.
It will be recalled that the lower court had on 16th November, 2019 upheld Ihedioha’s victory as the governor of Imo State.