Peter Obi, Secondus lead PDP protest against Imo Supreme Court verdict

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday protested against the recent Supreme Court judgement that sacked Emeka Ihedioha as governor of Imo State.

The protest, led by PDP national chairman Uche Secondus, had the party’s 2019 vice-presidential candidate Anambra State Peter Obi, former lawmaker Dino Melaye and other members from different states of Nigeria in attendance.

The protest began from the party’s campaign headquarters, Legacy House, in Maitama district of Abuja to the Supreme Court headquaters.

A similar protest was held in Imo State on Sunday by supporters of the sacked governor.

Dressed in black attires, the protesters alleged that their choice of leadership was subverted by the apex court.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday nullified Ihedioha’s election as governor and declared Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as the winner of the March 9 governorship election in the state.

In the final result announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said Uzodinma was fourth in the election, behind Uche Nwosu of the Action Alliance (AA) and Ifeanyi Ararume of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

But the seven-member panel of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Tanko Muhammad said the evidence tendered by Uzodinma and APC was lawful.

The court said votes due to Uzodinma and APC from 388 polling units were not credited in the final result.

In reaction, Ihedioha said the Supreme Court’s verdict has put the electoral process, the judiciary and democracy in Nigeria on trial.

“It is not about Emeka Ihedioha, it is not about Imo State. It is about tomorrow. Do you go into an electoral process without having an idea? It has to be resolved one way or the other,” Ihedioha said.

On Monday, Secondus called on eminent Nigerians and lovers of democracy to speak out on the matter.

“Today, it is at the door of Imo. Tomorrow, it will be at another person’s door. So, people must speak out,” Secondus said.

But former Nigeria vice president Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2019 election, urged Ihedioha and the PDP to accept the Supreme Court verdict.

He urged Ihedioha not to be deterred by the court judgement but to overcome his setbacks and “come back stronger.”