👤 Uthman Muhammad, DENISAURUS News

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has sacked Emeka Ihedioha and affirmed Hope Uzodinma as the new Governor of Imo state.  

The ruling directs the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,  who had declared Mr Ihedioha winner of the 2019 elections to withdraw Mr Ihedioha’s certificate of return and asked that one should be issued to Mr Uzodinma, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

DENISAURUS News understands that Mr Uzodinma came fourth in the elections, but after seeking redress over 388 units where elections were cancelled, a seven-man panel declared that Mr Ihedioha did not win.

The lead judge, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun noted that Mr Ihedioha was not “duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast.”

She stated 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“The certificate issued to the first respondent (Ihedioha) is hereby withdrawn.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.”