By Baron Ike
Owerri, the capital of Imo state, is currently tensed as the verdict of the Supreme Court is being awaited on the governorship election that brought Emeka Ihedioha into office last year.
Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressive Congress, Ifeanyi Araraume of the All Progressive Grand Alliance and Uche Nwosu of the Action Alliance are insisting that Ihedioha of the People’s Democratic Party did not get the constitutional two thirds majority required if him to be declared winner of the election.
Although Ihedioha scaled through at the Tribunal and Court of Appeal, the trio of Uzodinma, Araraume and Nwosu proceeded to the apex court to seek its constitutional interpretation of the law on the result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Recently, however, Nwosu was disqualified from the governorship contest by the Supreme Court on the basis that he was candidate of two parties which the Electoral Act frowns on.
Uzodinma and Araraume are therefore left to battle Ihedioha at the Supreme Court.
Supporters of the governor, Uzodinma and Araraume are all optimistic the apex court verdict will go their way, leading to so much tension in the state.
The tension is worsened by the recent prediction by Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration ministry Enugu that the Supreme Court will rule against Ihedioha.
Ihedioha’s supporters and kinsmen are not taking Mbaka’s prediction lightly and have gone to town to take on him, including taking adverts in the traditional and social media to caution him.
At eateries, pubs, markets, churches and other public places in Imo, Armadanews.com learnt that the pending Supreme Court verdict has been the main agenda on the lips of Imolites.
But judicial officers believe that the ruling of the apex court will not be based on sentiments but on the facts of the matter before the court.
Uzodinma came distant fourth during the governorship election, Araraume came third while Nwosu came second.
Uzodinma’s supporters bask in the euphoria of Nwosu’s disqualification leaving him to inherit the votes which Nwosu fraudulently obtained.
Uzodinma had asked the apex court to declare him as duly elected. Araraume is also making the same prayer.