Tribunal judgment validates Ihedioha victory

The Action Alliance (AA) says the victory of Gov. Emeka Ihedioha of Imo at the Imo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal affirms the governor’s election.

The party also congratulated Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a statement issued by Mr James Vernimbe, the National Secretary of the party.

“Action Alliance across Nigeria and beyond congratulate you on your well-deserved victory at the Imo governorship election petition tribunal which affirmed your election as the duly elected governor of Imo state.

“Our great party is indeed satisfied with the judgment and we congratulate you and urge you to continue with the good works in Imo state,” he said.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the tribunal on Sept. 21, dismissed all three petitions challenging the states governorship election where Ihedioha emerged as the winner.

The petitioners challenged the emergence of the PDP candidate as the winner of the March 9 governorship election on the grounds that the election was marred with irregularities.

However the tribunal held that candidate of the Action Alliance Uche Nwosu, Ifeanyi Ararume of the All Progressive Grand Alliance and Senator Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress, failed to establish their petitions against Ihedioha.

The three-man tribunal held that the petitioners have failed to discharge the burden of proof placed on them by the law, their petitions were liable to be dismissed.

Earlier, the Action Alliance party on Sept. 7, during its special convention, withdrew the party’s name from the election tribunal, saying it was for the overall interests of the party and the state.