Supreme Court Dismisses Ex-Deputy Speaker’s Appeal

Former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha lost Thursday  morning in his challenge of Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha’s victory at the last governorship election in the state.

The Supreme Court in a unanimous judgment  dismissed the appeal by Ihedioha, who was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election held on April 11. Okorocha was the candidate of the All Progressives Party (APC).

A seven-man bench, led by Justice John Fabiyi, affirmed an earlier  judgment by the Court of Appeal, Owerri, which held that Ihedioha’s failure to properly serve Okorocha and his party robbed the appellate court the jurisdiction to hear the case.

The Supreme Court noted that Ihedioha’s failure to indicate, in the appeal processes (documents), addresses of other respondents was fatal to the case.

They consequently dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit. Ihedioha appealed the ruling.

The Imo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had, in a ruling on July 22, dismissed Ihedioha’s petition against Okorocha’s victory on ‎on the grounds that it was incompetence.

 The Court of Appeal, Owerri dismissed the appeal in its decision given on September 3, 2015, prompting the PDP candidate to appeal to the Supreme Court