Supreme Court dismisses Anyanwu’s suit against Ihedioha

*Victory for democracy, says gov

By Val Okara, Owrrri

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a suit filed by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, challenging the emergence of Imo state Governor, Emeka Ihedioha as the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a unanimous decision of five justices of the Supreme Court, presided over by Justice G. Okoro, the apex court held that the allegations of fraud and over -voting pleaded by the appellant were not proved.

It further held that the appeal ought not to have come to the Supreme Court in the first instance, saying that the concurrent findings by the lower courts were unassailable and also agreed with the Court of Appeal, Owerri which affirmed the judgement of the trial Federal High Court, Owerri.

Justice Okoro, who led the panel of five justices while dismissing the appeal, awarded costs of N200, 000 against the appellant (Sam Anyanwu) in favour of Gov. Ihedioha and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Sen. Anyanwu had approached the court to nullify the victory of Ihedioha on the allegations of over -voting and thuggery which he alleged swayed the polls against him and that he should be declared as the authentic winner of the primary election.

Daily Times recalls that Gov. Ihedioha during the party’s primary conducted in Owerri on October 1, 2018, polled 1, 723 to defeat Sen. Anyanwu, who scored 1, 282.

While Sen. Anyanwu rejected the result of the primary, five other aspirants, namely, Senator Achonu, Prof. Jude Njoku, Chief Chukwuma Ekomaru, Chief George Ejike, congratulated Ihedioha and also worked for his victory at the March 9, 2019 governorship poll.

Reacting to the development, Gov. Ihedioha described the judgement as a victory for democracy and dedicated it to God and the good people of the state.

The governor therefore, extended the olive branch to Sen. Anyanwu to join hands with him in his efforts to rebuild the state and restore her lost glory.

“Imo state is our home and we have no other place to go. I extend once again, my hands of fellowship to my brother, Sen. Sam Anyanwu to join us as we make genuine and deliberate efforts towards rebuilding our state which we met in a state of near-collapse,” the governor said.