•Anyanwu: Judgment is miscarriage of justice
The Imo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, has upheld the election of Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Imo State governor for the second term.
In two unanimous judgments on Friday, the three-member tribunal dismissed the petition by the Labour Party (LP) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and their candidates in the election held on November 11, 2023.
However, the PDP governorship candidate in the election, Senator Samuel Anyanwu has rejected the tribunal’s ruling, while calling on his supporters to remain resolute.
At the November 11, 2023, Imo governorship election, the LP had as its candidate, Athan Achonu, while the candidate of the PDP was Samuel Anyanwu in the election.
Both parties had, in their petitions, raised allegations of non-compliance with relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and malpractices.
There was also the challenge of Uzodimma’s qualification, based on the claim that his General Certificate of Education (GCE) result was forged.
They prayed the court to void Uzodimma’s election on the grounds that he did not score the majority of lawful votes cast in the election.
In the lead judgment in the petition by the LP, read by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay, the tribunal held that Uzodimma’s election as Imo State governor complied substantially with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The tribunal equally held that the petitioner failed to prove their allegations of over-voting and non-compliance to the Electoral Act as required.
In the judgment in the petition by the PDP and its candidate, the tribunal equally found that the petitioners failed to discharge the burden of proof imposed on them by the law.
The tribunal held that the petitioners failed to prove that Uzodinma submitted a forged certificate and that the election violated the Electoral Act.
The tribunal proceeded to dismiss both petitions for lacking in merit.
Anyanwu: Judgment is miscarriage of justice
Reacting to the tribunal ruling yesterday, Senator Anyanwu vowed to do everything within the ambit of the law to reclaim his stolen mandate.
He said that the verdict of the Election Petition Tribunal was so inconsequential that it would not hinder him from achieving success at the end of the day.
While describing the judgment as a miscarriage of justice, he further assured that he would not be deterred by the minor setback at the lower court, adding that all necessary legal avenues would be explored until victory was assured.
According to him, the ruling of the tribunal was another clear case of misplaced judgment which violates the substance of the petitions challenging monumental election irregularities, falsification of results, and disqualification.
“Today, there is a charged atmosphere in Imo State; the faces of Imo people are looking moody and unhappy. This shows that their efforts to enthrone good governance by voting for me as their preferred candidate have been hijacked.
“We can’t accept this judgment, we shall utilize all constitutional means to regain our mandate. In a few days from now, my legal team will be done with the review of the verdict. Thereafter, we shall do the needful.”
Anyanwu maintained that his party has substantial merit to further seek redress at the Appeal Court to challenge the judgment of the tribunal, and enjoins PDP members and his supporters to remain resolute and peaceful until the stolen mandate is recovered.
