By Michael Olatunji
The sunset came very early for Governor Emeka Ihedioha on Tuesday as the Supreme Court of Nigeria, voided his election as the governor of Imo State.
In his stead, the nation’s apax court announced Chief Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress, APC, winner of the March 9, 2019 election.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Tanko Muhammad led a seven-man panel of the Supreme Court to sack Ihedioha.
The judgment was unanimous as the judges held that Uzodinma, who came fourth on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s INEC, final result sheet, won in the governorship election in Imo State.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who read the lead judgment, ordered that the certificate of return issued to Ihedioha be immediately withdrawn and directed that a fresh certificate of return be issued to Uzodinma.
Kekere-Ekun said Uzodinma must be immediately sworn in as the Governor of Imo State.
In the election held in March, the INEC declared Ihedioha of the PDP as winner, having polled 273,404 ahead of his closest rival and candidate of the Action Alliance, Uche Nwosu, who polled a total of 190,364.
The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Ifeanyi Ararume came third ahead of Mr Uzondima of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The former polled 114, 676 while the latter polled 96,458.
By the new computation, Uzodinma recorded additional 236,600 votes in the 318 units, thus bringing his total votes to 333,058, more than the 273,404 votes declared for Ihedioha.