The supreme court today, Tuesday, 14th January 2020 sacked Emeka Ihedioha as Governor of Imo state, declaring Hope Uzodinma as winner of the March election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Ihedioha, who ran under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the election but Uzodinma, his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, challenged the outcome of the election in court.

A seven-man panel of the apex court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad, unanimously declared Hope Uzodinma as the winner of the March 9, 2019, governorship election and the validly elected governor of the state.

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who read the lead judgment, ordered that the certificate of return issued to Ihedioha be immediately withdrawn.

She directed that a fresh certificate of return should be issued to Uzodinma.

She also directed that Uzodinma must be immediately sworn in as the Governor of Imo State.

Last week, Enugu state based Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka had said that Uzodinma will become Governor of Imo state. This did not go down well with Ihedioha’s camp who labeled Father Mbaka a false prophet.