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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Supreme Court has been urged to exceed the expectations of Nigerians in the judgement of the 2019 governorship election in Imo State.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Action Alliance (AA) had challenged the participation of Governor Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the outcome of the exercise.
But the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the apex Court to uphold its commitment to justice and maintain the scheduled October 31, 2023, date for hearing the pending Imo gubernatorial suits.
National Coordinator of HURIWA Emmanuel Onwubiko, at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, expressed deep concerns about allegations of undue influence and attempts to shift the date for the hearing, to a later date after the November 11th governorship elections in Imo State.
Recall that the Court had set October 31, 2023, as the date for hearing two separate appeals filed in 2020.
He said: “These appeals seek to determine the authentic candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 election, an issue that has remained contentious and a source of political instability in Imo State.
“This decision to fix a date for hearing the cases comes after years of uncertainty, providing a ray of hope for the people of Imo.”
Onwubiko said: “The two appeals are a direct result of judgments delivered by the Supreme Court in late 2019 and early 2020, which had far-reaching consequences.
“In late 2019, the apex court disqualified Uche Nwosu from contesting the 2019 gubernatorial election. This ruling was based on Nwosu’s double nomination by the APC and the Action Alliance (AA), a move deemed unconstitutional and in violation of electoral laws.
“Subsequently, in early 2020, the Supreme Court removed Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from his position as the elected governor.
“The court declared Hope Uzodimma of the APC as the winner of the 2019 governorship election.
“However, dissatisfaction with how Uzodinma became the APC gubernatorial candidate led to a motion on notice filed by the PDP and Action People’s Party (APP) in 2019.
“They sought the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the judgment that held Nwosu as the APC’s candidate but disqualified him due to dual nominations by APC and AA.
“Another motion on notice was filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Philip Umeadi SAN, who asked the Supreme Court to interpret the judgment that disqualified Nwosu and to enforce this judgment regarding the APC’s participation in the 2019 Imo governorship election”.
Also, he further stressed that the international community is closely watching Nigeria’s efforts to maintain a credible democratic process, and any perceived irregularities could damage the country’s reputation.
He urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, to resist external pressure and ensure the timely hearing and determination of these crucial cases. The organization stressed that the Supreme Court’s commitment to justice is paramount to restoring the confidence of the people of Imo State in the judiciary.
He also claimed to have exposed an alleged move by some individuals to influence the Supreme Court into changing the hearing date The organization revealed that significant amounts of money were being used to manipulate the process, with the apparent aim of delaying the hearing until after the November 11th governorship election, which would render the entire process meaningless.
“It is essential to acknowledge that this matter has been pending for three years, during which the Supreme Court had not taken action to hear the cases.
“Now, as the court finally shows its willingness to address these crucial issues, any deviation from the set date would be a severe blow to the court’s already battered image and credibility.
“Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done, especially in matters that have caused significant political instability. The people of Imo State and the international community are closely watching the proceedings, and any perceived irregularities could erode trust in the Nigerian judiciary”, HURIWA concluded.
