By Lancelot Onuoha, Southampton, UK
In the eyes of the law, the opposition collapsed like a pack of cards in Imo State where political tensions had been perverse in the last 8 months, after the Governorship election was held.
The polls was won by Governor Emeka Ihedioha who defeated Uche Nwosu of the Action Alliance, AA, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA and Senator Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressive Congress, APC.
They had cited fraud in the election and choose to go to the Election Petition Tribunal to seek either a re run or cancellation of the governorship election.
The tribunal flung away their petitions citing lack of merit in them.
The Judgement has created an atmosphere for less political bickering. But how that melts away the opposition in a State political battles are so fierce is yet to deciphered at a time losers at the tribunal have gone to a higher court to seek redress.
Governor Ihedioha has extended a hand of friendship to the opposition forces to join him to make Imo great.
In a statement he wrote shortly after the judgement, he said there is no victor, no vanquished. He called for co operation on the part of his political adversaries to sheath their sword and join his administration to rebuild Imo State.
“I therefore call on all Imolites across party and opinion divides, especially my opponents in the last election and in today’s tribunal sitting to join hands with us as we make Imo great again” he wrote
The Former Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives had been on the saddle of governance of Imo State since May 29, 2019, rebuilding a State largely adjudged to have been plagued by inept leadership of his predecessor, Rochas Okorocha.
Ihedioha has made some moves adjudged to be positive and hailed by majority of the People of the State who have shown a relentless desire to key into the Rebuild Imo Project.
The Government of the day has growing support thus may make the opposition melt away like hot knife on butter.
The opposition in Imo State may indeed find it difficult to rise from the ashes of defeat at a time Ihedioha seems to enjoy glaring support from a larger majority of the people who seems to be pleased on his proactive steps to make Imo better.
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