Appeal court upholds Governor's election victory

Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo has expressed happiness over his victory at the Appeal Court in Owerri, which struck out an appeal filed against him by his PDP rival, Emeka Ihedioha.

Okorocha reacted in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Sam Onwuemeodo, in Owerri on Thursday, September 3.

The tribunal had struck out the petition for lack of merit.

Dissatisfied, Ihedioha went to the Court of Appeal, whose ruling on Thursday, further affirmed the ruling of the tribunal.

Okorocha, while commending the Appeal Court ruling, declared that it had justified the governor’s stiff confidence in the ability and readiness of the judiciary to uphold justice and also respect the popular and lawful actions of the people.

He expressed his deep respect for Ihedioha, and declared that his desire to govern the state was a legitimate quest.

The governor also commended the legal team of Ihedioha, led by a “highly reputable lawyer”, Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN), for what he called their exemplary outing, right from the tribunal to the Appeal Court.

He appealed to Ihedioha to end the litigation over the governorship election of 2015 "n the interest of the state and her people''.

He called on him to join hands with him and other well meaning Imo people toward the rapid development of the state.

“It is the wish of the governor that the issue of who won or who lost the 2015 election in the state should be kept behind, while all Imo people, irrespective of their political affiliations, should be part of the administration.''

NAN reports that the Appeal Court, headed by Justice Jimmy Bada, on Thursday ruled in favour of Okorocha on the grounds that Ihedioha’s appeal lacked merit.

Delivering the Judgment, Bada said that the appeal was also dismissed on grounds of improper service of summons on the respondents, saying that the addresses were not properly listed.

Justice Bada further explained that the issue of service was fundamental in law and the rules of the Court of Appeal, and therefore struck out the case for lack of merit.

Reacting to the judgment, Counsel to Ihedioha, Ahamba, expressed surprise at the ruling.

“I have done appeals in the past but I am surprised that the rule on service to respondents is different in election matters.

“We had a good ground for appeal but for the shortcoming in the service; the substantive matter is still in our favour. We are not done yet, we still have another tier to go.”