Nigerian Supreme Court has dismissed a plea by Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State seeking a certificate of return as the state’s lawful governor.
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Ihedioha as the winner of Imo State governorship election in 2019 and ruled the state for about seven months until the Supreme Court nullified his election and gave it to Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who came forth in the election.
Ihedioha had told the apex court that Governor Hope Uzodinma was not qualified to run for the election in the first place, claiming that Uche Nwosu was earlier declared by the court as the rightful candidate.
In a verdict read by Justice Tijjani Abubakar on Tuesday, the Supreme Court dismissed the motion for lack of merit, calling it needless and vexatious.
It awarded the cost of N40 million against Mike Ozekhome for bringing the matter before the court.
Recall that in a split judgment, Nigerian Supreme Court, sitting in Abuja on Tuesday March 3 2020, dismissed the application for review of its January 14, 2020 judgment, which removed Emeka Ihedioha as Imo State Governor and declared Hope Uzodinma as the valid winner of the last governorship election in the state.