The Supreme Court has finally laid to rest the governorship tussle between Governor Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The judgement of the Supreme Court was in favour of the incumbent.
Delivering judgment on the matter, the court unanimously dismissed the appeal challenging Okorocha's victory by Ihedioha for lacking in merit.
In doing so, the apex court affirmed the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Owerri delivered by Justice Ejembi Eko to the effect that Ihedioha’s failure to properly serve Okorocha and his party, the APC, had robbed the Appeal Court the jurisdiction to hear the case.
The court at the same time dismissed Ihedioha’s appeal challenging Okorocha’s election.
The court presided over by Justice John Fabiyi, further held that failure to indicate the addresses of other respondents on the processes of the appeal was fatal to the case.
Ihedioha had appealed against the ruling of the Imo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on July 22, which dismissed his petition on the grounds that it was incompetent.
Meanwhile, Okorocha has applauded the apex court for dismissing Ihedioha's appeal challenging his victory.
“For respecting and endorsing the electoral and civic rights of Imo people to choose who would govern them, we shall continue to hold the judiciary in high esteem because that arm has continued to earn the confidence of Imo people,” Okorocha stated.
The governor also thanked Imo people for their support and prayers which have seen him victorious from the tribunal to the Supreme Court.
He called on Ihedioha to join hands with him to make Imo better.