BREAKING: Supreme Court Delivers Judgment in Suit Seeking Sack of Uzodimma As Imo Governor

• The Supreme Court has dismissed an application seeking to remove Governor Uzodimma from office based on alleged irregularities in his APC nomination
• The court dismissed the PDP's application, describing it as frivolous and noting that Uzodimma was qualified to contest as the state governor
• In its judgment on Tuesday, the apex court also awarded a N40 million fine against Mike Ozekhome, PDP's lawyer, for bringing the matter to its jurisdiction

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

FCT, Abuja - The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, December 5, ruled on the application of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking to remove Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo state from office.

As reported by Vanguard, a seven-man panel of the court, led by Justice Inyang Okoro, dismissed PDP's application, noting the apex court declined jurisdiction on the matter.

Read also

Breaking: Supreme Court asked to sack Tinubu as fresh legal battle begins

How the Supreme Court delivered its judgment

The application, initially brought by Uche Nwosu of Action Alliance (AA), sought to remove Uzodimma from office on the premise that he was not validly nominated by the All Progressives Congress to contest the election that led to his first tenure in 2019.

Specifically, the PDP and its candidate, Emeka Ihedioha, prayed to the Supreme Court to give effect to its 2019 verdict that disqualified Nwosu on the ground that he was nominated by both the AA and the APC) to contest the election.

During the trial, PDP argued that recognising Nwosu as APC's candidate created a legal conundrum, further questioning the validity of Uzodimma's governorship given the double nomination issue.

Read also

Abba Yusuf vs Gawuna: APC chieftain predicts possible winner at Supreme Court

The Supreme Court, however, ruled on Tuesday that it lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the appeal and labelled it as frivolous, imposing a personal cost of N40 million against Mike Ozehkome, who represented the PDP and Ihedioha.

Remarkably, the case, which stayed over three years in the docket of the apex court, was initially fixed for hearing in October but was later deferred until after the recent governorship poll in the state that led to Uzodimma’s re-election.

Imo election 2023: Uzodimma speaks on victory

Earlier, Governor Hope Uzodimma shared an update regarding his victory in the Saturday, November 11, governorship election.

Recall that Uzodimma was declared the winner of the 2023 governorship election in Imo state.

Speaking on the development, the Imo state government on Monday, November 13, said Uzodimma won because there was no crisis in the APC before and during the poll.

Read also

Breaking: Appeal court gives verdict on petition challenging Alex Otti’s election as Abia governor

Supreme Court asked to sack President Tinubu

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) asked the Supreme Court to sack President Bola Tinubu.

The HDP and its 2019 presidential candidate, Chief Ambrose Owuru, said Tinubu should be sacked for unlawfully presenting himself for inauguration on May 29 as president when he is aware of a pending appeal against the conduct of the 2023 presidential election at the apex court.

The national coordinator of the HDP, Alhaji Anwal Ibrahim, disclosed this in a press statement issued to newsmen in Abuja on Monday, December 4.

Source: Legit.ng