Can Supreme Court Sacrifice Nigeria’s Democracy And Judiciary To Make Uzodimma Governor And Please APC?

By Ken Ibeawuchi

This topic is coming after my holistic look at the whole imbroglio, sort of, that has trailed the declaration of Senator Hope Uzodimma as winner of the 2019 governorship election that was conducted in Imo State on March 9, 2019 and thereby crowning governor.

Though I am not a lawyer, but I heard and seen a lot to convince me that Uzodimma truly committed fraud with which he misled the Supreme Court to give him judgement.

Everybody interested in the case should by now know the facts of the case. The whole thing is in the public domain. The wrong figures are just very wrong to be acceptable to anybody that doesn’t want to justify illegality.

My main purpose here is to show that Nigeria as a whole is greater than everyone. Nigeria is greater than the Supreme Court, APC, Uzodimma, PDP, Ihedioha and everything involved in the case from Imo State.

My question out of all that I have read and heard about the Ihedioha and Uzodimma case is, can Supreme Court sacrifice Nigeria’s democracy and judiciary to make Uzodimma governor and please APC?

Has it been determined that Uzodimma didn’t commit fraud by the various errors and mistakes discovered on the result sheets Uzodimma presented to the tribunal and court?

Uzodimma has not denied or accepted that he forged those result sheets. From all indications, people are only defending Uzodimma’s claims without minding the errors and mistakes in the result sheets.

That’s not good for Nigeria. It must be stopped. Support for Uzodimma should be after his claims are proved beyond reasonable doubts as they say in law and judiciary. But now that the errors and mistakes in the result sheets he brought to the court have not been explained and clarified, it’s wrong for anybody to side Uzodimma and the Supreme Court on the badly delivered judgement.

So far, it’s obvious that Nigerians and indeed people in parts of the world would want to see a judgement that has no encumbrances from the Supreme Court.

The judgement delivered on January 14 is so controversial because it has huge encumbrances. The numbers just didn’t connect. And that calls for explanations and clarifications.

I don’t care who wins at the end of it all. But I sure am interested in the efficacy and sincerity of the judgement. If an error-free judgement is delivered and either Uzodimma or Ihedioha emerges winner and governor,well and good.

But the first judgement is simply too error-prone, hence it’s unacceptable to all well-meaning people. The overall loser in all of the controversial and contentious judgement so far is Nigeria and not Uzodimma and APC or Ihedioha and PDP. That’s my worry and concern.

If he became governor, Uzodimma will go one day as he came one day. The same goes for Ihedioha. If he became governor, one day he will leave office. But like barracks Nigeria remains to bear the consequences of the judgement.

Personally, I feel it’s a unhealthy for Nigeria’s democracy and judiciary if the Supreme Court judgement of January 14 is upheld and allowed to stand. Nigeria mustn’t be sacrificed for the personal ambition of any individual citizen.

I fear Nigeria’s collective interest is on the line. And that shouldn’t be so because of the personal ambition of Uzodimma and his party. Uzodimma is not worth dying for as Nigeria is worth dying for.

I recall how in 2011 many thought Rochas Okorocha was worth dying for. Eight years after, most of those that wanted to die for him were among those that wanted to mob mob him and where possible murder him.

I see the same experience happening with Uzodimma. Already there are indications that he doesn’t know what to do as a governor and he’s surrounding himself with equally incompetent aides. That’s his kettle of fish. But I have pity for the people of Imo State!

Am not for or against Uzodimma. Am not for or against Ihedioha. Rather am for Imo people, for Imo State and for Nigeria. I strongly believe that if Imo people, Imo State and Nigeria win, everybody else won.

Let the Supreme Court go on with the review. If at the end Uzodimma is still favoured by the votes and results, then let Uzodimma be Imo governor. Life goes on!

On the hand, if after the more thorough review the votes and results favour Ihedioha, let him be governor. Life goes on!

What’s important, therefore, is the truth about the wrong and conflicting contents of the result sheets and the votes, numbers and figures written on them.

Did Uzodimma get 213,695 votes that were excluded from the 388 polling units? Did Uzodimma get votes in that were over, higher and above total registered voters in polling units?

Are the total number of votes cast in 2019 governorship election in Imo State higher, over and above the total number of accredited voters? Why are there more voters than accredited voters?

Is it possible by electoral laws for Uzodimma and Ihedioha to share 215,000 votes or thereabouts from 388 polling units, whereas 715,000 votes or thereabouts were shared by 70 candidates?

There are indeed hundreds of possible questions that can be generated from the result sheets detailing the votes from the 388 polling units.

That’s why the proper thing to do by the Supreme Court is to comprehensively review its controversial and contentious judgement on Uzodimma v Ihedioha and save itself and everybody else the lingering harrowing experience sourcing from its misjudgement.

That will be the best option that will serve the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians over and above the interests of Uzodimma or Ihedioha, APC or PDP. My humble take!