Emeka Ihedioha has officially been sacked by the Supreme Court as governor of Imo state with Hope Uzodinma announced as winner of the March 9 election.

Ihedioha was first declared winner of the election by The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Uzodinma, then came forward to challenge this declaration. 

Here are the intial INEC poll results: Ihedioha, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP):  273,404 votes; Uche Nwosu, Action Alliance: 190,364 votes; Ifeanyi Ararume, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA):114,676 votes; Uzodinma, All Progressives Congress (APC): 96,458 votes

The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, unanimously declared Ihedioha was not the true majority vote winner. 

Below is an excerpt from the judgement read by Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, announding Ihedioha's certificate to be revoked. 

“The votes due to the appellant, Hope Uzodinma and the All Progressives Congress (APC) from 388 polling units were wrongly excluded from scores ascribed to them,” she held.

“It is hereby ordered that Emeka Ihedioha, was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the said election. His return as the elected governor of Imo state is hereby declared null and void and accordingly set aside.

“It is hereby declared that the first appellant (Uzodinma) holds the majority of lawful votes cast at the governorship election held in Imo State on March 9, 2019, and has satisfied the mandatory constitutional requirement.

“It is hereby declared that first appellant, senator Hope Uzodinma is the winner of the governorship of Imo State held on March 9, 2019.

“The certificate issued to the first respondent (Ihedioha) is hereby withdrawn. It is hereby ordered that the certificate of return shall be be issued to the first appellant, senator Hope Uzodinma, forthwith and he should be sworn in as the governor of Imo state.”