The Imo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja confirmed Hope Uzodimma as the validly elected governor in the November 11, 2023, Imo governorship election.
The three-member tribunal, chaired by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay, delivered a unanimous judgment affirming Uzodimma’s victory.
The tribunal rejected the petition filed by the Labour Party (LP) and its candidate, Athan Achonu, stating that Uzodimma’s election adhered substantially to the provisions of the Electoral Act. The tribunal also ruled that the LP failed to prove allegations of over-voting and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the governorship election, with 540,308 votes. He defeated his closest rival, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who received 71,503 votes, while Achonu secured 64,081 votes. None of the other 15 candidates garnered up to 10,000 votes.
Achonu, dissatisfied with the result, had approached the tribunal seeking to annul the election, alleging electoral malpractices in various parts of the state.
