A former leader of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and
former ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, Buba Galadima, yesterday
described the Supreme Court verdict, which declared Hope Uzodinma Imo
State governor-elect as the greatest wonder in world history.
He
said: “What has happened is that the Supreme Court has now tied itself
because how can they do that to Emeke Ihedioha and refuse Abba Kabiru
Yusuf in Kano? It was exactly what had happened in Kano.
“If an
election had to be cancelled, it has to be at the polling unit level
according to the Supreme Court. But in Kano, the votes were not
cancelled at the polling unit; they were not cancelled at the ward level
but they were cancelled at the local level. So, it goes without saying
that Ganduje is gone, and anything to the contrary, Nigeria will see the
fire.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) meanwhile presented its Certificate of Return to Uzodinma yesterday.
INEC
National Commissioner in charge of Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo, May
Agbamuche-Mbu, presented the certificate during a short ceremony at the
commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Chief Press Secretary to INEC
Chairman Rotimi Oyekanmi had told journalists earlier that the
electoral umpire would comply with the Supreme Court ruling that sacked
the former governor, Emeka Ihedioha, once it received the order.
Late
Tuesday, the apex court, in a unanimous judgment by a seven-man panel
of justices led by Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Tanko Muhammad, had
held that Ihedioha, who contested on the platform of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) was not duly elected.
Uzodinma has since
placed a “Post No Debit” order on Imo State funds. A letter to that
effect dated January 14, signed by the director-general of his campaign
organisation, Chief Cosmas Iwu, was addressed to all financial
institutions in the state.
In a valedictory statement he issued
in Owerri, Ihedioha described his ouster as a “contravention of the will
of people.” He said: “I am reporting back to you, our great Imo people,
on the fate of the mandate you freely gave to me as governor and Engr.
Gerald Irona as deputy governor. This mandate has now been truncated and
cut short by the Supreme Court, in contravention of the will of the
people.
“I do not agree with the judgment of the Supreme Court. I
think it is unfair, unjust and does not reflect the voting that took
place during the elections. It also didn’t take care of the
sensibilities of the people of Imo State. But as true democrats, Engr.
Gerald Irona and I have no option but to respect the outcome of that
judgment.”
He said: We have put machinery in motion to hand over
the reins of office to the APC candidate as the next governor of Imo
State. The Secretary to the State Government will coordinate this. I,
therefore, direct all members of Imo State Expanded Executive Council
and all political appointees to write their handover notes and return
all government property in their custody, forthwith. I shall not be a
party to the pilfering of government property or funds.”
Reacting
to Uzodinma’s triumph, the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) expressed
optimism that the new governor would empower the citizenry in the state.
PGF’s
chairman, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, in a statement said that the forum
would work with Uzodinma to strengthen the capacities of progressive
states to create jobs, stimulate economic activity, reduce inequality
and diminish poverty.
“We rejoice with you and the people of Imo
State, and all lovers of democracy and justice in Nigeria in this
rightly deserved victory that restored your stolen mandate.
“We,
in particular, wish to commend your doggedness, resilience, commitment
to the rule of law and abiding faith in the judiciary that culminated
into this ultimate victory. It is victory at last for us all. We welcome
you to the fold of Progressive Governors as you take over the mantle of
leadership in Imo state.”
Also reacting to the judgment, former
Vice President Atiku Abubakar urged the PDP and Ihedioha to accept the
verdict and move on.
“With regard to the judgment of the Supreme
Court, which nullified the election of the candidate of the Peoples
Democratic Party, Emeka Ihedioha, as governor of Imo state, I can only
say that since the Supreme Court is final, we must accept its judgment,
however unexpected and unpalatable it may be,” Atiku said in a statement
yesterday.
He advised: “The rule of law must guide our paths
even if logic sheds light on a different path,” adding: “Let me state
unequivocally that I solidarise with Emeka Ihedioha, a man I know to be a
great leader of men and resources. In the fullness of time, I am
convinced that he will overcome this setback and emerge stronger.”
He
urged the people of Imo all Nigerians not to despair, stressing: “This
nation has gone through despotic times before, and we have survived them
and thrived. I am very certain that this history will repeat itself.”
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