On Tuesday, January 14, many Imo people woke up with high expectations and, of course, some level of anxiety.
The highest court of the land, aptly called Supreme Court, was scheduled to hear and rule on the dispute emanating from the governorship election of March 9, in the state.
Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Hope Uzodinma had challenged the victory of Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claiming that he (Ihedioha) did not get two-third majority of the votes cast.
As night fell on Tuesday, the tide turned, albeit drastically for Imo people.
A seven member panel of the Supreme Court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Muhammad Tanko, in a unanimous decision sacked Ihedioha as governor of the state and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue a fresh Certificate of Return to Hope Uzodinma as the duly elected governor of the state.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun who read the judgment said the lower courts erred in law when they rejected evidence tendered before them to the extent that votes from 388 polling units were not credited to the APC and Hope Uzodinma.
For many Imo people the judgment of the Supreme Court is a “sad and disheartening” pronouncement.
A cross section of those who spoke to the Next Edition, said the judgment was unjust as it was unexplainable and the question that plagues their mind is “ how did someone who came forth become winner?”
Of course, that question, however, answered had become an academic exercise as the Supreme Court pronouncement is final in every sense of finality.
For Mr. Buchi Njere, the apex court’s verdict is fraudulent. He told the Next Edition: “The judgment of the Supreme Court in the Imo governorship dispute is possibly the most fraudulent judicial pronouncement ever in the history of Nigeria. The fourth became the first.
“Not even a chance for a re-run to test the popularity of the leading candidates.
“We have been forced back to the locust years, the wasted and directionless years of Rochas Okorocha. The future of the people of Imo state is now being determined from outside by those who do not wish our land progress.
“If Imo never works, today marks the beginning of the decline.”
READ ALSO: Hope Uzodinma Reacts To Supreme Court Verdict, Says, I’ve Recovered My Mandate
His sentiments are echoed by Mr. Ejike Uka who spoke to the Next Edition on telephone from Owerri.
Describing the mood in Owerri and its environs, after the judgment, he said: “The town is a ghost town. Nobody is happy, if anybody is happy, it would be a very tiny minority. It is a sad day for Imo people. The state is in a mourning mood. The atmosphere is sombre.
“A mammoth crowd has gathered at the Government House, we pray they don’t become riotous and start destroying thing.”
Mr. Uka asked rhetorically, “How did this happen?”
Corroborating Mr. Uka’s position, Mr. Tony Opara who though resident in Lagos is currently on a visit to Owerri the Imo State capital said: “The Imo Capital where I am now is quiet occasioned by what people consider the sad news of the removal of their beloved Governor, Sir Emeka Ihedioha.
“I am yet to read the reason given by the Justices of the apex Court but, one goes away with a feeling of an injustice even if the verdict was unanimous. Ndi Imo are still in shock how a man who came fourth in an election is now gifted with Douglass House in Owerri.
“Charles Chukwuemeka an Owerri based political commentator said there was nothing to be sad about or humiliated about as politicians are the same. When I asked how the PDP controlled Imo State House of Assembly, would react, he said I should watch the switch of allegiance to the APC. For some, the victory is neither here nor there while to many it’s a sad day in the heartland.
“An Abuja based journalist who broke the news told me ‘ndi Imo ndonu’ (Imo people, sorry). This refrain captures even my mood.”
Also speaking to the Next Edition, an Imo based legal practitioner who did not wish to be named described the verdict of the apex court as “very disheartening and sad.”
He said: “The summary of the whole thing is that it is a black Tuesday for Imo people. Sadly, this is another eight year sojourn in a foreign land, if not in the wilderness. It is very sad and disheartening. It is like somebody very dear has died.”
Continuing, he said people have already started counting their losses.
“A friend called and said, ‘What will happen to these roads that the governor (Ihedioha) is repairing?’ Another asked ‘What will happen to the pension that the governor is paying?”
A Facebook user, Chukwuemeka Oleru, wrote on his wall: “WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS LEFT FOR IMO PEOPLE? I think Mbaka should be charged for contempt of court except “men of God “ are exempted by the constitution. Ararume should head to court.
I’m just thinking aloud.”
One of the respondents summoned up the mood of Imo people following the Supreme Court judgment: “Imo has been handed over to mediocre by a mediocre president. Imo was set back many years behind by Rochas Okorocha and now we are likely to move farther behind with the hopeless Hope.”
