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The Governorship election tribunal in Imo State yesterday unanimously dismissed the petitions filed against the declaration of Senator Hope Uzodinma as the duly elected governor of the state.
In dismissing the petitions of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Labor Party (LP) for lack of merit, the tribunal held that the petitioners did not discharge the burden on them to prove the case .
The Eastern Updates reports that the tribunal further held that the Imo State Governorship election held on November 11th, 2023 was in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act.
According to it, the petitioners not only failed to prove over voting as alleged, the witnesses testimonies were hearsay and of no evidential value.
According to the tribunal, contrary to the allegations of the petitioners, it was found out that the WAEC result of Senator Hope Uzodinma was never forged.
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The tribunal further dismissed the case of non qualification as the petitioners failed to tender the membership register of APC, which it described as being fatal to their case.
The tribunal whose ruling was delivered by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay dismissed on merit the cases filed against Gov Hope Uzodinma by both the PDP and the LP. In the Governorship election, INEC declared Senator Hope Uzodinma as the duly elected governor, having scored the highest number of votes and winning in all the 27 local government areas.
Meanwhile, the candidate of the PDP, Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu, has vowed to appeal against the verdict of the election petition tribunal that affirmed the victory of Governor Uzodinma.
The PDP candidate maintained that he has substantial merit that gave him more legal strength to pursue the case to its final stage and enjoined his supporters to remain calm and resolute as they are going to reclaim their stolen mandate.
