Imo guber: Achonu, Labour Party close case at elections petitions tribunal
The Labour Party and its candidate in the last Imo State gubernatorial election, Senator Athan Nneji Achonu on Monday, April 29, 2024 adopted their final written addresses.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had declared Governor Hope Uzodinma reelected despite alleged widespread irregularities and violence that marred the November 11, 2023 exercise, hence promoting Achonu and his party to reject the result and proceed to the Imo State Elections Petitions Tribunal to challenge it.
A statement by Ihejirika Eze Emeka, the Legal Adviser of the Labour Party in Imo State read in part: “The LP gubernatorial candidate Sen. Athan Achonu had filed a petition challenging the declaration of Hope Uzodinma as the winner of the November 11, 2023 governorship election based on the public known fact that the said election was marred with serious electoral irregularities, non compliance with Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.
“Also joined in the petition apart from INEC and Hope Uzodinma are, the APC gubernatorial running mate, Mrs Ekomaru, PDP candidate, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu and the PDP.
“The LP and its candidate, Sen. Athan Achonu, called sufficient and implacable witnesses and tendered uncontroverted evidence to prove the Petition.”
Ihejirika added that “with the adoption of final written addresses of counsels for the parties today, the case is now set judgment.
“As we await the judgment of the tribunal, we commend our Legal team, witnesses, party faithful and most importantly our capacity guber candidate, Sen. Athan Achonu, for his doggedness, tenacity in undertaking this great task for justice in our electoral system and for Imolites.
“We reiterate our confidence in the Nigerian judiciary and our belief that the judiciary MUST do the right thing in impactful cases like this petition.
“Despite this confidence, we will not relent in our vigilance and prayers for the will of the Almighty God to be done in Imo State and for our people to breathe some relief just as the halelluya being heard in neighboring Abia State.”