By Ubah Eziuche
The silence of former governor of Imo State, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, over the Philip Umeadi suit, may be giving the impression to his supporters, that like the outcome of the attempt at a review of the January 14th ruling of the Supreme Court, he may have given up on returning to office through the same process that saw him out of it.
A ruling by the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the 14th of January, 2020, saw the former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly out of office, installing Senator Hope Uzodinma as the winner of the 2019 General Elections.
Ihedioha’s attempt to seek a review of the ruling, was also shot down by the Supreme Court.
Hope seemed to come Ihedioha’s way, in the person of Chief Philip Umeadi, a former INEC Commissioner, who approached the Supreme Court, to interpret a previous indirectly connected ruling the Apex Court handed down on Uche Nwosu, the son-in-law of former Imo governor, and Senator representing Orlu zone, Senator Rochas Okorocha.
The Supreme Court had disqualified Uche Nwosu, on the grounds that he held the dual candidacy of the All Progressives Congress APC, as well as the Action Alliance AA, in the 2019 General Elections.
With that ruling, it appeared that Senator Hope Uzodinma wasn’t the candidate of the party in the election.
Umeadi in his suit, is now demanding an interpretation of the ruling handed down on Nwosu, and how it relates to the outcome of the January 14th 2020 verdict, that sacked Ihedioha.
However, it has been almost a year, since the suit was filed, and till date, nothing has been heard of it.
Ihedioha on his part has appeared to have lost hope in seeking justice through that avenue, and has been more interested lately, in rebuilding and repositioning the party, ahead of the 2023 General Elections.
The lack of faith in the Umeadi suit, has also affected the morale of Ihedioha’s supporters, as many have dumped him, and embraced the Hope Uzodinma administration.
Uzodinma on his part seems untroubled by the matter, as he goes ahead confidently piloting Imo affairs.
The chances of Ihedioha returning to power through a counter judicial coup seems to dim by each passing day, as Imo people have started access and judging Hope Uzodinma by his performance, and not the circumstances that produced him.
