Former Imo state governor, Emeka Ihedioha has announced his withdrawal from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s governorship primary

 

Emeka Ihedioha, a former governor of Imo state, has declared his intention to not run in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary for governor of Imo state.

The PDP recently screened and approved Ihedioha to run in the party's primary before the state's November 11 governorship election. Ihedioha, however, told the PDP leadership of his "personal sacrifice" for a "consensus candidate" by the party in a letter dated March 27, 2023.

Recall that Ihedioha had only been governor of Imo State for seven months when he was ousted by the Supreme Court in January 2020.

Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressive Congress (APC) was unanimously pronounced the victor of the March 19, 2019 governorship election in the seven-member panel headed by Chief Justice Tanko Muhammad.

Although Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reinstated Ihedioha as the state's governor despite the appellant, Uzodimma, claiming to have received the most votes in the election.

According to Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who handed down the ruling, Uzodimma's votes should be added to those that were wrongfully omitted from the 318 polling places.

The top court decided that the lower court made a mistake in its decision after considering the arguments of a key witness who was required by law to appear and submit results.

Following this, Justice Kekere-Ekun ruled that Uzodimma was the governor who had been legitimately elected, and INEC gave Uzodimma the certificate of return that had been provided to Ihedioha.