This decision was not taken lightly.

And I am sure many of those who have, on their own, already started mobilising for me will be disappointed.

Former Gov. Emeka Ihedioha of Imo has announced his withdrawal from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election.

Ihedioha announced his withdrawal from the race in a letter entitled, “notification of my withdrawal from the Imo PDP gubernatorial primaries”.

The letter was addressed to the National Chairman of the party and was cited by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

NAN reports that only Ihedioha and the National Secretary of the party, Mr Samuel Anyanwu, were screened for the primary election for the Imo PDP ticket.

In the letter, Ihedioha stated that he turned 58 years on March 24 and had cause to reflect on so many things, including the state of PDP.

The former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives stated that having been a member of the party since its formation in 1998, he aligned himself with the request by PDP Imo chapter to the National Working Committee for a consensus candidate for the governorship primary.

“In the interest of harmony and unity of the party, I have elected to make the personal sacrifice of withdrawing from further participation in the processes, leading to the emergence of the gubernatorial candidate.

“This decision was not taken lightly.

“My commitment to the service of our people has never been in doubt.

“And I am sure many of those who have, on their own, already started mobilising for me will be disappointed.

“I sincerely seek their understanding and that of associates, admirers and particularly the electorate, who have over the years aligned themselves and identified with my political aspirations,” Ihedioha added.

The former governor, who was sacked in 2020 by the Supreme Court, expressed gratitude for the opportunity given to him to have served in various capacities as a legislator and governor.

“I am also proud of the positive impact I made, particularly in the seven months I served as the governor,” he said.

The Supreme Court has adjourned until Tuesday, hearing in application filed by Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), asking it to review a judgment on Imo governorship that declared Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the March 9, 2019, election.Ihedioha and the PDP had approached the court after the apex court on Jan, 14 nullified his victory and declared Uzodinma as the winner of the election.

Ihedioha was earlier declared the winner of the election by the electoral umpire, INEC

The apex court had resumed hearing on Monday, however, after announcing appearances, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, counsel to Ihedioha asked for adjournment because they were served with court processes in the court.
The seven-man panel of justices led by Justice Tanko Mohammed adjourned the case until March 2 to allow them time to study the process served.

NAN reports that the application which was slated for hearing on Feb. 18 was earlier adjourned to March 2, based on the applicant’s counsel request.

The lawyer representing Uzodinma and his party, the All Progressives Congress, Damian Dodo,SAN, and that of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Taminu Inuwa, SAN, did not oppose the application for adjournment.

News Agency Nigeria (NAN) reports that the apex court had, in a unanimous judgment nullified the election of Ihedioha and ordered that Sen. Hope Uzodinma of the APC be sworn in as governor.

The apex court had nullified Ihedioha’s election as Imo governor and declared Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as the winner of the March 9 governorship election in the state.

The apex court set aside the judgments of the state governorship election petition tribunal and the Court of Appeal.

The lower court which affirmed Iheodioha’s election, held that he was not validly elected as the governor of the state and consequently ordered that the certificate of return issued to him be retrieved and issued to Uzodinma.

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who read the unanimous decision of the apex court on Jan. 14, held that the lower courts erred when it rejected the evidence tendered before them to the extent that the votes from the 388 polling units were not credited to the APC and Uzodinma.

Dissatisfied with the verdict of the apex court, Ihedioha, through his legal team, approached the Supreme Court in a motion on notice dated Feb. 5, seeking to nullify the judgment delivered by the Court on Jan. 14.

Ihedioha contended that the judgment sought to be set aside is a nullity in that it was delivered without jurisdiction by reason of the following.

“Having regard to Section 140(2) of the Electoral Act (as amended), the appellants/respondents divested this court of the relevant jurisdiction to declare the first appellant/ respondent as the winner of the gubernatorial election conducted in Imo State on March 9, 2019 by branding or stigmatising the entire election as invalid

Ihedioha and PDP held that the apex court did not have the jurisdiction to declare that Uzodinma was duly elected in the absence of any proof that the votes ascribed to him met the mandatory geographical spread stipulated in section 179 (2) of the constitution.

NAN reports that Uzodinma in a preliminary objection dated Feb. 5, asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the application filed by Ihedioha.

Uzodimma prayed the Supreme Court for an order setting aside “as a nullity the judgment delivered by it on Jan. 14.

Uzodimma and APC’s preliminary objection against Ihedioha was brought pursuant to Section 6(6)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

The objection raised and argued the competence of the motion and the jurisdiction of the court to entertain same and therefore urged the apex court to strike out the motion filed by Ihedioha.

They said that the application being a proceeding relating to or arising from election of a governor is barred by expiration of time.

“The application constitutes an invitation to the Supreme Court to sit on appeal over its final decision” Uzodimma posited.

They submitted that having delivered its final decision, the Supreme Court has become fuctus officio and divested of jurisdiction over the same subject matter.

They said: Order 8 Rule 16 of the Supreme Court Rules 2014 prohibits the apex court from reviewing its judgment once given and delivered, save to correct clerical mistakes or accidental slip.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hailed Wednesday’s verdict of the Supreme Court on Bayelsa Governorship election.
The party gave the commendation in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja.
Ologbondiyan, however, noted that the elements and grounds for PDP demands and majority of Nigerians for the reversal of Imo State Governorship election judgment were completely different from those of Bayelsa.

He said that PDP’s demand on Imo was not in any way in contestation of the authority and finality of the Supreme Court.
He said the demand was rather a patriotic effort to assist the Supreme Court affirm its infallibility by correcting the inherent mistakes in the judgment, which came as a result of misleading presentation to it by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“It is, therefore, instructive to note that the various election matters before the Supreme Court were brought on clearly distinctive grounds and each should be treated on its merit before the law,” he said.
Ologbondiyan said the only reason APC was pushing for a review of the Supreme Court’s valid and flawless judgment on the Bayelsa and Zamfara Governorship elections was to cause confusion and blackmail the Supreme Court from treating the Imo case on merit.
He said that the grounds for the reversal of Imo judgment were unambiguously, constitutional and completely distinct from APC’s demands on the Bayelsa and Zamfara elections.
“The party, therefore, urged the Supreme Court not to succumb to the threats and blackmail to push it or restrain itself from looking at the merit of the Imo case; correcting the mistakes and reversing the flawed judgment,” he said.

The Women Wing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo has lauded Gov. Emeka Ihedioha for approving the automatic employment of 4,000 teachers in the state.

The state PDP Women Leader, Mrs Maria Mbakwe, gave the commendation while addressing newsmen on Friday, in Owerri.

Mbakwe, who thanked the governor for the mass recruitment, noted that the employment was in fulfilment of one of his major campaign promises.

She commended Ihedioha’s prudence, integrity, transparency and accountability, prompt payment of salaries and pensions of workers as well as execution of capital projects across the state.

Mbakwe also lauded the governor for putting security measures in place, adding that the Ihedioha’s efforts in the area of security had kept crime at a very low ebb in the state.

“We sincerely thank the governor for keeping one of his major campaign promises, through the employment of 4,000 teachers and the timely payment of salaries and pensions.

“Also, the security measures put in place by the governor have reduced crime, thus sustaining the position of Imo as one of the most-peaceful states in Nigeria,” she said.

Gov. Emeka Ihedioha of Imo said Nigeria was celebrating 59 years of liberation from colonialism and said the country was better as a liberated nation than under colonial rule.

He said past leaders who fought for Nigerian Independence should always be remembered for their supreme sacrifice but added that no sacrifice is too big to pay for a nation like Nigeria.

These were part of Ihedioha’s speech, which he delivered on Tuesday to mark the 59th Independence Day celebration at Hero’s Squire, Owerri.

The governor enjoined Nigerians to show patriotism to their fatherland and shun rancor and bitterness.

He said his administration had set up a framework for good governance and adopted measures to block financial leakages.

According to the governor, Imo internally generated revenue (IGR) has risen from N 241 million monthly to N 749 million, following the implementation of TSA.

He said his administration had applied a new roadmap to totally overhauling the state workforce and had instituted transparency in governance.

On security, Ihedioha said a new architecture framework has been put in place to guarantee safety of Imo people but harped on the need for everybody to corporate with his administration to achieve the desired goal.

According to him, his administration will restore education to its pride of place, working hard to ensure that education as the biggest industry in Imo is restored, so that our graduates will compete globally.

“We will also make Imo the technological hub of Nigeria and also harness our potentials for agriculture by reviving the ADAPALM and Avutu Poultry to its best,” he said.

He said, in the last rating, Imo state ranked the worst state in terms of transparency and accountability in governance but I tell you that in the next ranking, the story will be different.

The governor, however, said his administration would make Imo the destination of choice for investors.

He said his administration had strengthened weak institutions and had adopted the principle of separation of powers, which he said would help him to deliver good governance in Imo.

Ihedioha lauded Imo lawmaker for their steadfastness in their legislative activities, assuring that he will not interfere with their job.

The governor, however, urged Imo citizens to always show patriotism to their state by paying their tax and total obedience to rule of law, while also appealing to them to keep the state clean for a healthy environment.

Imo Governor-Elect, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, has promised to run a responsive and all inclusive government with an independent judiciary that would guarantee unbiased and quick dispensation of justice.

Ihedioha made the promise after receiving his Certificate of Return at the INEC Headquarters in Owerri on Wednesday.

He received the certificate from the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Imo and Abia, Prof. Okey Ibeanu, flanked by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Francius Ezeonu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ihedioha’s Deputy, Gerald Irona, and the 27 members-elect of the state House of Assembly were equally presented with Certificates of Return.

Ihedioha extended an olive branch to all who contested the governorship election in the state with him, to join in moving the state forward.

He promised take measures to improve the economy of the state and reposition the local government system to become meaningful to the rural dwellers.

The governor-elect said that a transition committee, made up of major stakeholders, would soon be put in place for the smooth take off of his administration.

Ihedioha commended the electorate for the confidence reposed in him and his deputy, and promised not to let them down.

He commended INEC for the courage and patriotism in organising a successful Governorship and Assembly elections in the state, saying the conduct was in accordance with the electoral laws.

Ihedioha advised members-elect of the state House of Assembly to justify the mandate of their constituencies.

He urged them to ensure equity and fairness in all their actions.

Prof. Ibeanu, while presenting the certificates, congratulated the governor-elect and others on their victory at the polls and wished them well.

He commended the Imo electorate for choosing their leaders and their commitment to the election.

Ibeanu enjoined the governor-elect to be a leader and a representative of the state and not his party, for a successful administration.

He urged him to also apply what he called post-election healing and be magnanimous to all.

“Bear in mind that you will be serving the same people but different individuals, so that after four years, the people can say they made the right choice,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Ray Emeana, the State Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), described the victory of Ihedioha and PDP as wonderful, monumental and historic.

He said it was also a manifestation of the wish and will of the people of the state.

Emeana said that with the victory, the people of the state had been liberated.

Mr Pascal Okolie, who was elected to represent Orlu State Constituency, said he felt fulfilled having received the certificate.

He advised the people of the state to exercise patience with the incoming government, saying that a
lot of things went wrong in the state.

“We are expecting the leadership of Ihedioha to deliver, and he will deliver.

“Correcting the wrongs that happened in the state is a process and not a day’s job. So my advice is for Imo people to have patience, as things will normalise with time,” Okolie said.

Mr Emeka Chinedu, a House of Assembly member-elect, who also received his Certificate of Return, was of the view that the governor-elect had come to rebuild, restructure and refresh Imo.

“Imo people will see something different and new with the incoming government.

“Ihedioha government will bring positive changes to the state, and in few months, Imo people will smile,” he said.

NAN reports that the governor-elect, his deputy and the state House of Assembly members-elect were issued with Certificates of Return in the presence of the party supporters and friends. (NAN)