Decision To Make Uzodinma Imo Governor Will Haunt Nigeria For A Long Time - Supreme Court Justice

Posted by Thandiubani on Wed 04th Mar, 2020 - tori.ng

The decision of the Supreme Court to declare Hope Uzodinma winner of Imo Governorship election has been condemned by a Supreme court justice.

Emeka Ihedioha and Hope Uzodinma

Justice Chima Centus Nweze a part of the 7-man panel that presided over the review appeal filed by former Imo state governor, Emeka Ihedioha, has condemned the Supreme Court’s decision on the case.

Nweze the lone dissenting voice in yesterday's verdict stated that the decision “will continue to haunt our (Nigeria’s) electoral jurisprudence for a long time.”

Recall that the apex court dismissed the application for review of its January 14, 2020 judgement that sacked former Imo state governor, Emeka Iheodiha, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Justice Nweze who insisted that the Supreme Court can reverse itself in fulfillment of justice, stated that the apex court misled itself into declaring Hope Uzodinma as governor without evidence of meeting other constitutional provisions.

According to him, “This decision of the Supreme Court will continue to haunt our electoral jurisprudence for a long time to come. In my intimate reading of the January 14 judgment, the substance of Ihedioha’s matter was lost to time frame.

“This Court once set aside its own earlier judgment and therefore cannot use time frame to extinguish the right of any person.

“This Court has powers to over rule itself and can revisit any decision not in accordance with justice. This decision of the Supreme Court will continue to haunt our electoral jurisprudence for a long time to come. This Court has a duty of redeeming its image.

“I am of the view that this application should succeed. I hereby make an order setting aside the decision of this Court made on Jan. 14 and that the certificate of return issued to the appellant be returned to INEC. I also make an order restoring the respondents as winner of the March 9 governorship election.”