Jubilation in Imo as Court dismisses suit against Ihedioha

Val Okara, Owerri

A Federal Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State capital, on Thursday, dismissed a suit filed by Senator Sam Anyanwu, challenging the emergence of Imo State Governor-elect, Rt. Emeka Ihedioha, as the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Senator Anyanwu had approached the Court seeking to nullify the victory of Rt. Hon. Ihedioha and rather be declared as the authentic winner of the primary election.

He had accused Hon. Ihedioha of engaging in over voting, thuggery, which he alleged, swayed the polls in favour of Ihedioha.

Delivering judgement, Justice Tijani Ringing, said the plaintiff did not convince the court on the prayers he sought.

He said from the allegations of Senator Anyanwu, the Court could not establish the fact in his claims and therefore dismissed the suit for lack of proof.

It would be recalled that the Imo Governor-elect, in a primary election conducted in Owerri on the October 1 polled 1723 votes to defeat his closest rival, Senator Anyanwu, who polled 1282.

While Senator Anyanwu rejected the result of the primary election, five other aspirants, namely Senator Achonu, Prof. Jude Njoku, Chief Chukwuma Ekomaru, and Chief George Ejike congratulated Ihedioha on his victory and went ahead to join his campaign tours.

Meanwhile, there was jubilation on the streets of Owerri over the judgement on Thursday. Some residents who spoke to journalists described the judgement as a landmark and called on Senator Anyanwu to join hands with the Governor-elect to move the state forward.