The election of Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu, the representative for Imo State’s Ideato North and South Federal Constituency, as the duly elected member of the House of Representatives was unanimously upheld by the Court of Appeal in Lagos on Wednesday.
His family members and supporters lost their lives in a deadly attack on his residence on January 7, 2023, just days before the National Assembly elections on February 25. The judicial victory has ended a nearly two-year political battle that has been both fascinating and bloody.
According to Platinumpost, the Court of Appeal has concluded the case regarding the election to the National Assembly.
The panel led by Justice Abubakar Babandi Gumel unanimously overruled the Imo State National/State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal’s ruling, which had disqualified Ikenga and declared his election invalid in relation to a pre-election matter involving the PDP primary. This was done in spite of numerous rulings from the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal indicating that Election Tribunals are not authorised to handle matters pertaining to pre-elections.
Ideato celebrated the court’s decision with great excitement as soon as word got out, rapidly transforming the streets and markets into carnivals. Despite the fierce resistance of Governor Hope Uzodimma, whose candidate only won one polling unit out of the 346 polling units in the Federal Constituency on February 25, the people of Ideato had overwhelmingly voted for Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere.
There were reports of celebration for the ruling throughout other local government areas of the state, as well as throughout the entire Southeast.
After the ruling, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere’s attorney, Emeka Ozoani, SAN, spoke and hailed the decision as a triumph for democracy and the end of political misbehaviour. According to him, the absurdity of the Tribunal ruling prompted the filing of nine appeals with the Appeal Court—the most ever against a single ruling in the history of the country’s election petition law.
READ ALSO: Banky W’s election loss affirmed by Appeal Court in Eti Osa, LP Reps’ member
“The President of the Court of Appeal and the three Panel members deserve all the commendation for resisting the attempts of Hope Uzodimma to undermine them like he did to Justice Akpovi who has lost all his respect for such strange judgement he delivered after the Tribunal hearing,” Barr Tochukwu Ohazuruike said, praising the Court of Appeal President and the three Panel members. The only people who will comprehend why this compliment is appropriate and necessary are those who believe Hope Uzodimma will stop at nothing to defile the judiciary.
A very ecstatic Hon. Ugochinyere responded by declaring that God always defends the defenceless.
While it may not be the opportunity cost for those who lost their lives in the fight, he said it will at least demonstrate that their deaths were not in vain.
He continued, saying, “Uzodimma is a bitter loser. Out of 346 polling units, his candidate only won one. placed a distant third in the election, but he moved to the Tribunal to demand that he be named the victor and that the Governor stop using public monies for such a despicable endeavour that would weaken the judiciary. But we are grateful to God for today.
“Now that my uncle has been here until this last victory, we can begin making arrangements for his funeral. He was murdered on January 7th in cold blood.” Additionally, he forewarned Governor Hope Uzodimma that power is ephemeral and that he would answer for his sins before God in heaven or here on Earth if he continued to support the murdering and maiming of Imo natives and citizens through the continuous existence of his non-state armed force.
