…Adjourns Benue indefinitely
By Victor Akaa, Abuja
The Supreme Court has nullified the election of Emeka Ihedioha and has declared Senator Hope Uzodinma winner of the Mar 19 Governorship election in Imo.
The apex court declared that the votes due to Senator Uzodinma was unlawfully excluded from the 388 polling units and be added to his votes.
In a unanimous decision by the 7 man panel delivered by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the submissions of a Principal witness who was on a subpoena to present results held that the lower court was wrong in its ruling
In the Judgment delivered by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the court accordingly ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Ihedioha and issued a fresh Certificate of Return to candidate of the APC in grounds that he won majority of lawful votes cast at the election.
The court held that the lower courts erred in law when it were rejected evidence tendered before them to the extent that votes from 388 polling units were not credited to the APC and Hope Uzodinma.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has Adjourned the hearing of Bauchi, Benue and Plateau states Appeal Indefinitely while that of Kano and Sokoko states governorship election appeals will be decided on January 20,2020.
