BY EBERE EKECHI
Chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Imo State, are now gripped with anxiety over a suit between Governor Hope Uzodimma, and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Phillip Umeadi, pending at the Supreme Court.
The matter is expected to come up on January 11, 2020 for hearing at the apex Court, Abuja.
Umeadi is praying the nation’s apex court to among other things, interpret and give further legal clarity on the dual candidacy of Uche Nwosu as governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, and the Action Alliance, AA which was first voided by a Federal High Court, and upheld by the Supreme Court.
When this newspaper reported the news of hearing of the matter to begin at the Supreme Court on January 11 on its website yesterday, a flurry of calls followed from PDP and APC chieftains, who expressed hope and concern on the matter.
Some PDP chieftains believe that the matter could go in their favour, if the Supreme Court queries the dual candidacy of Uche Nwosu, whose nomination as APC and AA candidate for the 2019 governorship election was nullified by the Federal High Court, Abuja and upheld by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had on January 15, 2020 sacked Governor Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP and installed Senator Hope Uzodimma of the APC, as the rightful governor of the State. A review of the matter instituted by the PDP at the Supreme court, was futile as the apex court insisted on its January 15 judgment.
A chieftain of the party, who spoke to INNONEWS on condition of anonymity, said “This is our last hope concerning the governorship of the state. If not, we will stay in political limbo until 2024. But I believe there is merit in the matter filed by Umeadi.
When asked how the ruling of the Supreme Court will favour the PDP, “We should not pre-empt the court, but we are prayerful and optimistic”
Recall that prior to the review of the Supreme Court judgement which removed Ihedioha, members of the PDP had gone into a prayer session which lasted for several days.
Chief Anayo Unachukwu, a chieftain of the APC in Imo State said the matter “is a ticking time tomb which must give every supporter of the Governor some worry”
“It’s a delicate matter but we remain hopeful. This administration has come to stay” he said
Recall that The Reform Advancement Party, RAP, had withdrawn it’s suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking judicial interpretation of section 177 (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
Governorship candidate of the party, Barr Okere Kingdom, in the suit queried Governor Hope Uzodinma’s nomination as governorship candidate of the APC after the Supreme Court, had nullified the candidature of Uche Nwosu,for dual nomination, as governorship candidate for the APC and AA.
He said he withdrew the matter because of the pending suit at the apex court filed by Umeadi.
READ ALSO
