The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and its Governorship candidate, Samuel Anyawu challenging the decision of the Imo State Election Petitions tribunal, which upheld the election of Hope Uzodinma as the authentic governor of the State.
The Court held that the appeal lacked merit, having resolved all the issues formulated against the appellants in the suit.
In same vein, the appellate Court dismissed the appeal by the the Labor Party and its candidate, Achonu Nneji and that of the Allied Peoples Movement for also lacking in merit.
The appellants who were dissatisfied with the judgements of the lower Tribunal, had approached the Court of Appeal on grounds that the November 11, 2023 off-cycle governorship election was invalid by reason of non-compliance with the provision of the Electoral Act.
The appellants also challenged Uzodimma’s qualification with an allegation that his WAEC General Certificate of Education result was forged.
While delivering judgment, the Court of Appeal held that the appellants in their appeal failed to prove the allegation of noncompliance as alleged.
The three-man Panel led by Justice Bitrus Sanga also held that the appellants failed to prove that Governor Hope Uzodimma who won a reelection on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), submitted a forged certificate.
Governor Hope Uzodimma was declared winner of the election with a total of 540,308 votes, while his closest challengers, Senator Samuel Anyanwu of the PDP came a distant second with 71, 503 votes, followed by the Labour Party, candidate Senator Athan Achonu who polled 64,081 votes to place third.
Editor: Ken Eseni
