The political landscape in Imo state might be taking a different turn on October 31st as the Supreme Court, after three years, will seat to determine the application filed in year 2020 praying the Apex court to determine if Gov Hope Uzodimma was nominated and sponsored by APC as the candidate of the party for the 2019 Imo state governorship election.
The Supreme Court will be deciding on the application filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Action Peoples Party, APP which seeks for the execution or enforcement of the judgement delivered by the supreme court in SC/1384/2019 – UGWUMBA UCHE NWOSU Vs APP & ORS ON 20th DECEMBER, 2019.
In that Judgement, the Supreme Court, in the lead judgment delivered by Honourable Justice Amina Augie, upheld the findings of both the trial court and the Court of Appeal with respect to the fact that Ugwumba Uche Nwosu was the Imo State Governorship Candidate of the Action Alliance [AA] and the All Progressives Congress [APC] contrary to Section 37 of the Electoral Act [supra] and sustained his [Ugwumba Uche Nwosu] disqualification from contesting the Imo State Governorship election.
The 31st October matter by the APP and PDP is premised on the following grounds:
a. The candidature of Ugwumba Uche Nwosu was nullified for being invalid for reason of his double-nomination by two [2] political parties: Action Alliance [AA] and All Progressives Congress [APC] contrary to Section 37 of the Electoral Act [supra].
b. By reason of the above, the All Progressives Congress [All Progressives Congress] did not field any Governorship candidate in the Imo State Governorship election and as such cannot be returned as the winner of the Imo State Governorship election.
c. The Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] Governorship candidate, Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha, having polled the highest number of votes cast at the Imo State Governorship election, ought to be declared winner of the said election as the acclaimed winner [All Progressives Congress] did not field any candidate following the disqualification of its duly nominated candidate, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu.
The prayers sought in the motion on notice are:
a. An order enforcing the judgment delivered in SC/1384/2019 by holding that Ugwumba Uche Nwosu was the Imo State Governorship candidate of both the Action Alliance [AA] and the All Progressives Congress [APC] and was disqualified for double nomination. And consequential orders to the following effect:
b. An Order to the effect that the All Progressives Congress [APC] did not field any Governorship candidate in the Imo State Governorship election following the disqualification of its duly nominated Governorship candidate in the person of Ugwumba Uche Nwosu for double nomination and as such cannot be returned as the winner of the Imo State Governorship election.
c. An order directing the swearing in of the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha as the Governor of Imo State.
Should the supreme court grant any of the prayers, Hope Uzodimma will cease to be the Governor of Imo state and a new person will occupy the Douglas House, Owerri. And in the Case that all three prayers are accepted or only the 3rd prayer, Ihedioha will be returning back to continue his tenure.
However, in a scenario the apex court turns a blind eye on its December 20th, 2019 judgement, the November 11th poll will go on as scheduled with Hope as the Governor.
