Imo: APGA Candidate Toasts ‘Brother’ Uzodinma On Supreme Court Victory

The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the last Imo governorship election, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, has congratulated Senator Hope Uzudinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for his affirmation by the Supreme Court as the validly elected governor of the state on Tuesday.

Araraume, in a statement he personally signed on Wednesday, said “In its wisdom, the apex court finally declared my brother, Senator Hope Uzodinma the validly elected Governor of Imo State in the 2019 Governorship election.

“I wish to state categorically that I accept the judgement of the Supreme Court in good faith and hereby congratulate Senator Uzodinma on his emergence as Governor.

“As a firm believer in the Rule of Law, I make haste to State my readiness to work harmoniously with the new Governor in the overall interest of the Imo people,” he said.

Araraume further appealed to his supporters to support the administration of the governor-elect to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

Earlier, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the election ahead of Uche Nwosu of the Action Alliance (AA) who came second.

Araraume had emerged third place in the result earlier announced by INEC, while Uzodinma came fourth place.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday, however, affirmed Uzodinma as the lawful winner of the election after its seven-member panel agreed that results in 388 polling units were unlawfully excluded during the collation of the final governorship election result in the state.

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun who read the judgement said when results from the 388 polling units were added to the earlier results declared by INEC, it was discovered that Uzodinma polled a majority of the lawful votes and thereby declared him winner of the election.