Gist
Nigerians React As Supreme Court Sacks Imo Governor Ihedioha
A storm of reactions by Nigerians has greeted the Supreme Court judgment which declared Hope Uzodinma governor of Imo state, southeast Nigeria.
Naija News had reported earlier that the Supreme court sacked Emeka Ihedioha as governor of Imo state and affirmed Uzodinma as the winner of the March 9 governorship election.
Giving judgment on the election on Tuesday, a seven-man panel of justices in a unanimous decision, held that Ihedioha did not win the majority of votes cast in the election.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who read the judgment, ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Ihedioha and give a fresh one to his APC rival.
“The votes due to the appellant, Hope Uzodinma and the All Progressives Congress (APC) from 388 polling units were wrongly excluded from scores ascribed to them,” Justice Kekere-Ekun ruled.
“It is hereby ordered that Emeka Ihedioha, was not duly elected by 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 (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“The certificate issued to the first respondent (Ihedioha) is hereby withdrawn.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 issued to the first appellant, senator Hope Uzodinma, forthwith and he should be sworn in as the governor of Imo State,” the judge added.
Moments after the news broke, Nigerians took to the micro-blogging site, Twitter to react to the judgment.
Naija News captured some of the reactions below…
Is there anyone with a convincing explanation for this? The candidate who came fourth in the Imo guber election, has been announced as winner by today’s Supreme Court judgment, and it strangely didn’t come with any statement. https://t.co/fYtQSPyo00
— Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda) January 14, 2020
Forget the Supreme Court, Father Mbaka prediction currently trending.
I would like someone to explain to me how you can shoot up from 4th position to winner?
Balance me right here Quick ! pic.twitter.com/xkGArF10Az
— AURA❤️COOL (@TWEETORACLE) January 14, 2020
Under PDP
Amaechi won at the Supreme Court againt Omeha. Peter Obi won at the Supreme court against Ngige. Oshiomhole won against Osumbor.
Now under APC
Nigerians are witnessing ONLY Signs & Wonders at Tanko-Buhari’s Supreme Court!
Buhari’s electoral reforms is on voicemail?
— ?? NEFERTITI – (The beautiful one has come)?? (@firstladyship) January 14, 2020
Supreme court is on fire!
4th to 1st.
Incredible?
Unbelievable?
Nigeria is indeed the giant of Ondo State!— ?PROF Bolanlè Cole Esq.? (@BolanleCole) January 14, 2020
The Supreme Court Judge that chickened out claiming to be sick is a man of integrity
??????
— IKECHUKWU (@iykimo) January 14, 2020
Tanko and his co travellers would go down as the worst Justices ever to have sat at our supreme bench.
At this rate, you don’t need to contest to be declared winner.
Oue supreme Court is now a den of legal robbers.
Hope is from my area,but this is daylight robbery.
— DEMAGOGUE PhD.?senior advocat? (@von_Bismack) January 14, 2020
Congratulations to Governor Hope Uzodinma of our great party, APC, who was today, declared winner of the March 2019 Imo gubernatorial election by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) January 14, 2020
Congratulations to Hope Uzodinma on being declared Governor of Imo State by the Supreme Court. As I always insist, the Rule of Law must prevail, no matter who the current law favours, or else we will have anarchy. Any law we don’t like, we should change it and then abide by it.✌?
— Dr. Joe Abah (@DrJoeAbah) January 14, 2020
Supreme Court declares Hope Uzodinma Gov of Imo State.
Shocking!
— Great Oracle (@AbdulMahmud01) January 14, 2020
IMO Gubernatorial election results 2019
PDP: Emeka Ihedioha 273,404
AA : Uche Nwosu 190,364
APGA: Ifeanyi Araraume 114,676
APC: Hope Uzodinma 96,458
YPP: Ikedi Ohakim 527.How do you explain what the Supreme Court just did to Law Students, Law teachers & Junior Lawyers?
— Comrade Deji Adeyanju (@adeyanjudeji) January 14, 2020
Would someone please explain to me how a candidate that came 4th in the election suddenly became the winner? The Supreme Court has a lot of explaining to do! The people of Imo did not deserve this nonsense!
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) January 14, 2020
