Okorocha’s Son In-law Activates Suit To Remove Governor Uzodimma From Office

Uche Nwosu, the son-inlaw of former governor of Imo state, Senator Rochas Okorocha has asked the Supreme Court to declare that Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma was not the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Uche Nwosu’s based his case on the court’s judgment that Nwosu was nominated by both the APC and the Action Alliance.

This request was made in a fresh suit by his counsel, Mr Philip Umeadi Jnr recently, asking the apex court to review its judgement in which he declared Uzodinma the APC candidate.

Uche also, asked the court for an order enforcing or otherwise directing the enforcement and or giving effect to the judgement of the court in the case delivered on December 20, 2019 wherein the court held that he was nominated by both APC and AA and consequently declared his nomination a nullity.

However, the same apex court reversed itself when it declared that Uzodinma won the Imo State governorship election under APC.

In the judgment nullifying his candidacy which he attached to the suit, Justice Amina Augie JSC, made the following findings: “…Apparently, in arguing as he did, the appellant does not seem to grasp or appreciate the intricacies of the case against him.

“The issue was not whether his name was on the ballot paper, or whether he was the APC’s candidate at the general election itself, the issue at stake is whether he knowingly allowed himself to be “nominated” as a candidate by both APC and Action Alliance…

“…The confusing part especially for lNEC, is that within two days, it received two forms signed by the appellant, as Gubernatorial candidate of two Parties – Action Alliance and APC…Form CF001 is an affidavit of personal particulars of persons
seeking election, which is provided by INEC for candidates to submit their details to it, and it derives its powers from S. 31(2) of the Electoral Act…

“…The compelling part of the story is that since nomination is complete when INEC receives the necessary documents from a Political party, its receipt of two Forms CF001, which were both sworn to by the appellant himself, leads to an irresistible conclusion that he knowingly allowed himself to be nominated as the gubernatorial candidate of the two political parties, and by Section 37 of the Electorate Act 2010 as amended), his nomination is void.”

Based on the above findings of the Supreme Court, Nwosu is asking the court to hold that both the Action Alliance (AA) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) did not sponsor and/or field any candidate for the governorship election held in lmo State on March 9, 2019 in view of the double nomination of the Appellant/Respondent by the two political parties aforesaid, and his subsequent disqualification as their gubernatorial candidate, as found by this honourable court in the Judgment delivered on 20th December, 2019.

He asked the court for an order sequel to the above that Senator Hope Uzodinma was not a candidate by himself or of any party at the Imo State Governorship election held on March 9, 2019.

Nwosu also asked the court for an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Senator Hope Uzodinma.

He asked the court “for an order further directing the 4th respondent to issue a certificate of return to the gubernatorial candidate of the 3rd Respondent/Applicant, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ehedioha in the lmo state Governorship election held on March 9. 20L9 as the duly elected governor of lmo state, having scored the second highest number of votes in the said election sequel to the judgment of this court in Appeal No SC/1462/2019 Hope Uzodinma & Anor vs Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha & Or delivered on 14th January, 2020.

He equally sought an order sequel to the above, directing that the said gubernatorial candidate of the 3rd Respondent/Applicant in the lmo state Governorship election held on the 9th March 2019 Rt. Hon. Emeka lhedioha be immediately sworn in as the governor of lmo State.

Recall that Uche Nwosu also contested the said election under the umbrella of Action Alliance (AA) and during the legal battle that removed Emeka Ihedioha as the sitting governor based on the judgment of the supreme court, Uche Nwosu withdrew his case which also challenged the sitting governor, and Paved way for judgement that brought Governor Hope Uzodimma to office.

Candidreporters.com also noted that on Friday, the Imo state government took over the Royal Palm Estate property belonging to immediate past former Governor Rochas Okorocha’s wife, Nkechi Okorocha.

The seizure was in compliance with the directive of the Imo State gazette on the report of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry on recovery of Lands and other related matters in the state.

Candidreporters.com also reported that Governor Uzodimma had announced the renaming of Rochas Okorocha’s private university, Eastern Palm University to K. O. Mbadiwe University shortly after the son of the late politician, Amb. Greg Mbadiwe decamped to APC at Ward 11 Independent hall, Ndi Aniche Arondizogu, Ideato North LGA of the state.

Rochas has warned Governor Hope Uzodimma on his attempt to rename his private university, Eastern Palm University.