*BY CHIDI ABBAH*
There is confusion over the conduct of the local Government election in Imo State. Reports had hit the social media early today that the Supreme Court had allegedly advised the Imo State Government not to hold the polls.
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A post on social media attributed to Barr. Enyinnaya Onuegbu, a legal practitioner reads “The matter between cn. Bar. Enyinna Onuegbu & 26ors. Vs The Gov. Of Imo State & 4ors. came up this morning at the Supreme Court of Nigeria (panel 1) . The Case was adjourned to 3/12/18. The attorney Gen and Rochas lawyers asked for date to respond to our further affidavits. Our lawyer Barr. Ngozi Olehi complained to the court over the plan of the Respondents to tamper with the Res or subject matter before the court by seeking to conduct LGA elections. The presiding Justice Rhodes Vivour warned against such conduct stating that Govt should not to do anything that will tamper with the status quo. It is clear that this has put spanner in the works for ORO’s plan to raise statutory delegates for APC primaries in the guise of conducting local government council elections in Imo State.
Sgd Chief Hon. Enyinna Onuegu ksc. Ist Appellant.
But the State Government in a swift response said there was no such ruling by the nation’s apex court.
According to a statement by Governor Rochas Okorocha Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemedo, he said the claim is totally false.
“This clarification has become diametrically necessary following a false claim in circulation by some of the former local government chairmen, that the Supreme Court has given an order against the State Government stopping the local government elections scheduled by ISIEC.
“That claim is totally false. There is no such order. And we challenge those behind the false claim to publish the said Supreme Court order with regard to the local government elections, for the public to see. And where they fail to publish the claimed Supreme Court order, they should cover their faces in shame.
He said the LGA polls will hold as scheduled.
“To say the least, the local government elections will hold as fixed by the state electoral body. The public should disregard the falsehood that is been circulated by those who have no iota of concern for the state and her good people.
“It should be stated here that the former chairmen have been in Court since 2011 to contest their sack and they lost at the High Court and also at the Appeal Court. And they are now at the Supreme Court. And the matter for which they appealed to the Apex Court has no bearing with the fixed local government elections” the statement stated