The Imo state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and the Imo State Government have received with joy the Judgment of the Appeal Court which struck out the appeal filed by the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha challenging the earlier ruling of the Election Petition Tribunal that sat in Owerri, which dismissed his petition against the victory of the Governor in the 2015 governorship election, for lack of merit.
In all these, the governor and the Rescue Mission Government in the state wish to sincerely commend the Appeal Court that handled the appeal matter for also upholding the ruling of the Election Petition Tribunal and striking out the appeal also for lack of merit.
By doing that, the Appeal Court had equally justified the governor’s stiff confidence in the ability and readiness of the Judiciary to uphold Justice and also respect the popular and lawful actions of the people over who would govern them at any given time.
His Excellency has always exercised reasonable regard for Hon. Ihedioha and would stop at nothing to commend his effort and apparent desire to govern the state, which he is entitled to, as a bonafide son of the state. It is also worth stating that all HON. Ihedioha’s legal actions with regard to the 2015 governorship election, were all designed to help in strengthening our democracy.
The governor also commends the legal team of Hon. Ihedioha led by a highly reputable lawyer, Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN) for their exemplary outing right from the tribunal to the Appeal Court.
However, having lost at the Election Petition Tribunal earlier before now and having also lost at the Appeal Court this time, the governor has no option than to sincerely appeal to Hon. Ihedioha to allow the litigations over the governorship election of 2015 to stop at this level in the interest of the state and her people.
The governor calls on the PDP candidate to join hands with him and other well meaning Imo indigenes to work for the rapid development of the state, and luckily enough, the Rescue Mission government in the state has already set the ball rolling.
It is the wish of the governor that the issue of who won or who lost the 2015 election in the state should be kept behind, while all Imo people irrespective of their political affiliations should be part of the administration, one way or the other and all aimed at building a state of our collective dream.
To the governor, both the election victory and the legal victories are for Imo people and not for any individual. The governor is just a tool in the hand of God to ensure that the state remains on the fast lane of development and growth.
Above all, the governor remains grateful to God Almighty for seeing him through all these.
He also remains thankful to Imo people for always being behind him and assured that he would continue to work in their overall interest. He asked them not to relent in their regular prayers for him and his administration.
