Posted by Hope Uzodimma, who was re-elected as governor of Imo State on November 11, claims that his re-election validates his status as the election’s true victor.
Uzodimma reportedly gave a sermon on Sunday at the Government House Chapel, as reported in a statement by Oguwike Nwachuku, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary.
Remember that in January 2020, Uzodinma took over as governor of the state after his predecessor, Emeka Ihedioha, who had been elected to the position on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had his victory overturned by the Supreme Court?
Uzodinma’s legal victory allowed Imo to hold elections outside of the traditional election season, making it the ninth state to do so.
Speaking after Abayomi Fashina, the returning officer of the gubernatorial vote, pronounced him the winner of the race on Sunday morning, the governor said he had been denied his “well-deserved victory” in 2019, causing him to go through a long court process that found in his favor.
He praised everyone who had a hand in his success and said he would be motivated to do even more for Imo as a result.
Says he:
“I am overjoyed and appreciative beyond words.
Thank you so much for your amazing support in yesterday’s (Saturday’s) election, dear people of Imo State.
This triumph means a lot to me because it proves that the same God who worked miracles in the past can do it again.
“I am humbled and honored by your confidence in me to lead our great state into the future. With your help, we were able to win by a landslide, and I promise to keep every campaign promise I made.
Uzodimma thanked INEC “for ensuring a fair and neutral electoral process” and called on his rivals to work with him to develop the country.
We will run a government that puts aside partisan divisions for the good of everybody, he said.
Meanwhile, Athan Achonu of the Labour Party has called this election an “attack on democracy.”