The Supreme Court yesterday fixed Thursday 29, October for judgment in the governorship election matter between Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), contender, Emeka Ihedioha.
The Appeal Court judgment had revalidated Okorocha’s mandate but Ihedioha, former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives was unhappy with the decision and appealed to the Supreme Court.
Before the Judgment day was fixed yesterday, a full panel of seven Justices of the apex court presided over by Justice John Fabiyi listened to arguments from all parties.
The election petition tribunal sitting in Owerri, had earlier struck out and dismissed Ihedioha’s petition challenging Okorocha’s election. But Ihedioha headed to the apex Court.
Governor Okorocha’s team of lawyers is led by Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) who sustained an argument that Ihedioha had abandoned the petition having failed to do all the needful after filing, including the payment of the approved fee within the time limit.
Okorocha’s counsel had filed a motion to that effect, asking the tribunal to strike out Ihedioha’s petition and quoted extensively both the electoral law and the constitution and other legal authorities to back his submissions.
