Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo has dedicated his victory at the Imo state governorship election petitions tribunal sitting in Abuja, to God.

The tribunal had earlier on Friday, dismissed the petition filed by the Labour Party (LP) and its governorship candidate, Athan Achonu, challenging the victory of Mr Uzodimma at the November 11, 2023 governorship poll.

Speaking at the Government House Owerri on Friday, Uzodimma said that the judgment was a reflection of the peoples’ choice during the governorship election held in the state.

Mr Uzodimma said: “It’s very exciting and interesting. We thank God.

“You are all living witnesses to the fact that Imo state is gradually changing and the people bought into it and demonstrated that by the way they voted during the election.

“There is no such victory that is not from God, and as long as the victory is from God, the same God will sustain it,” the governor said.

He expressed confidence that similar victory would be achieved at the Appeal Court should the litigant decide to appeal the judgement

A three-member tribunal, chaired by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay, had earlier affirmed the election in a unanimous judgement.

The tribunal held that Mr Uzodimma’s election as Imo state governor complied substantially with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

The tribunal further held that the LP, in its petition, failed to prove the allegation of over-voting and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

Mr Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 540, 308 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 71, 503 votes.

Mr Achonu came third with 64, 081 votes.

Contacted, the state’s publicity secretary of LP, Mr Bright Ofurum, said the party would make an official statement after studying the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgement.

(NAN).