The legal fireworks over the governorship ticket of the People Democratic Party, PDP in Imo State took a new dimension Monday when Nigeria’s apex Court, Supreme Court ordered the Federal High Court, Owerri to accelerate hearing on the matter.
The Federal High Court sitting in Owerri had deferred hearing and determination of the preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to continue to hear the matter.
Lead counsel to Ihedioha, KCO Njemanze SAN had filed an appeal against the decision of the Federal High Court sitting in Owerri deferring to hear the Preliminary Objection challenging the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to entertain the suit as it was constituted.
With the order of Supreme Court, the matter is expected gain more frequency at the Federal High Court, Owerri as legal pundits contend that the matter may be dispensed before the March 3, 2019 governorship election.
The legal firework seem to make nonsense of political moves aimed at resolving the simmering feud between Senator Samuel Anyanwu and the PDP governorship candidate, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha.
Anyanwu had alleged fraudulent practices during the Primary, an allegation that has not deterred Ihedioha from proceeding with his guber ambition which he has intensified with massive campaigns across the State.
Party leaders and chieftains had strongly canvassed for an end of the feud in order to have a united Imo PDP going in for a fierce governorship election against formidable political parties and candidates on March 3rd, 2019.
A leader in the party, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, had appealed to Anyanwu to withdraw the matter in court. This may not yielded results as Anyanwu had declined his appointment as member of the party’s campaign council while pledging support to the party’s Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.