Supreme Court Upholds Okorocha's Election, Dismisses PDP

The Supreme Court has upheld the election of Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State into power.The Supreme court on Thursday morning, October 29, ruled in favour of Okorocha, dismissing the appeal filed by PDP cheiftain Emeka Ihedioha, the former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Daily Trust reports.

Emeka Ihedioha, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, had challenged the validity of the election of Okorocha at the April 11, 2015 governorship election.

The seven-man panel of the Supreme Court presided over by Justice John Fabiyi, held that Ihedioha’s appeal lacked merit, adding that the failure to indicate the addresses of other respondents on the processes of the appeal was injurious to the case.The Supreme court held that the non-endorsement of address of service and the non-service as required by law rendered the appeal incompetent and liable to dismissal.

Ihedioha approached the Court of Appeal after his petition at the state’s election petition tribunal was dismissed on the grounds that it was incompetent and contravened the electoral act.The Court of appeal has dismissed his appeal on September 3,2015.Not satisfied with the ruling ,Ihediola directed his Counsel,Cheif Mike Ahamba to approach the supreme court and seek redress