In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed two separate appeals filed by the Labour Party (LP) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the election of Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State. Both appeals sought to overturn the governor’s victory in the November 11, 2023, governorship election, but were struck down for lacking merit.
The Labour Party’s candidate, Athan Achonu, and the PDP’s Samuel Anyawu had alleged electoral malpractice, including over-voting, in the gubernatorial poll. However, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision led by Justice Mohammed Baba Idris, ruled that the appellants failed to substantiate these claims.
This judgement upholds the earlier verdicts delivered by the Imo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal and the Appeal Court in Abuja, which had previously dismissed the petitions.
Reacting to the judgement, Governor Uzodinma expressed gratitude to the Supreme Court for its well-considered ruling and dedicated the victory to the people of Imo State. He acknowledged the challenges leading up to the case, including attempts to influence the outcome through blackmail and intimidation, but praised the judiciary for remaining steadfast in upholding the rule of law.
In a statement following the judgement, Governor Uzodinma said, “A few hours ago, the Supreme Court confirmed me as the duly elected Governor of Imo State following the November 11, 2023, governorship election. I thank God Almighty for this victory, as well as the Tribunal and Appeal Court for reaffirming my mandate.”
He emphasized that his re-election was a result of his strong performance during his first term, which he claimed was unprecedented in the state’s history. With this new mandate, Uzodinma pledged to continue serving the people of Imo State with renewed energy, transparency, accountability, and a sense of responsibility to all citizens, irrespective of their political or religious affiliations.
The Supreme Court’s decision marks a definitive end to the legal challenges surrounding Governor Uzodinma’s re-election and solidifies his position as the rightful governor of Imo State.
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