Imo: Security personnel barricade Govt House as Okorocha congratulates Uzodinma

Security agents have barricaded Imo Government House, Owerri, following the Supreme Court judgement against Governor Emeka Ihedioha on the March 9, 2019 election in the state.
The country’s apex court on Tuesday gave the ruling against Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The court directed the immediate swearing in of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Chief Hope Uzodinma, as winner of the seat.
The verdict was met with mixed reactions in various quarters of the state after Ihedioha’s initial victories at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Appeal Court respectively.
Following the development, some motorists parked by the roadsides in groups discussing in low tones.
Mr Julius Nmerenini, a motorist, said that the verdict was ”most shocking development thus far in 2020.
” I never knew it is possible for a candidate who came fourth in an election to eventually clinch power”.
Miss Nkemdirim Usoro, a resident of Owerri, said: ” We hope that Governor Uzodinma will continue and complete some of the people oriented projects which were started by Ihedioha.
”I earnestly pray that he embraces continuity and that he will take Imo to desired heights.”
There was free human and vehicular movements as security agents can be seen on some major streets of Owerri and environs.
Meanwhile, former Imo Governor Rochas Okorocha has felicitated Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the Supreme Court ruling declaring him the winner of the election.
But some stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state described the judgement as ”a rape of democracy”.
The Supreme Court nullified election of Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP as the governor of the state and declared Uzodinma winner of the governorship election held in Imo.
However, Okorocha, who is representing Imo West Senatorial zone at the National Assembly, said he would support Uzodinma’s administration to succeed in Imo.
Okorocha, who disclosed this through a statement issued by his media aide, Mr Sam Onwuemeodo, said the judgement represented the choice of Imo people.
“I want to congratulate Hope Uzodinma for his victory at the Supreme Court and we will all work together to ensuring that his government succeeds.
“This is an indication of a new hope in Imo, everybody must remain calm and watch Uzodinma unfolds what he has for Imo,” Okorocha said.
In another development, some PDP members in Imo have described the Supreme Court judgement as ”a rape of democracy”.
Speaking shortly after the news of the judgment, a PDP woman leader and a retired civil servant, Mrs Dora Nnawuchi, said the judgement did not only rape democracy, but a way of causing crises in Imo.