For a second time, Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has lost as Supreme Court declined to reverse his removal as Imo State Governor.
A seven-man panel of judges led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, dismissed the suit on Monday.
The Apex Court ruled that the application lacked in merit and said by the provisions of the rules of the court it shall not review any judgment delivered by it safe for any accidental slip or clerical errors.
The general law is that the court has no power to alter or vary any Judgment, expect to correct the error, or an order which is a nullity, or judgment or order made against a party of default.
It is settled law that the court has no power on appeal on its Judgment.
The court further said it had no inherent power to exercise its power over matter which it lacks jurisdiction.
There is no constitutional provision for the review of the Supreme court judgment by itself.
Once the court delivers its judgment, it becomes funtus officio.
The inherent power of the court can only be invoked if there is a missing link in the judgment
Justice Centus Nweze had a dissenting judgment and held that the court can change its mind in any decision, having done so in the past.
Mr. Nweze said “the court wrongly declared Hope Uzodinma as duly elected and that Justice Stephen Ada of the Court of Appeal was without jurisdiction to have given its judgment it gave to Hope Uzodinma.
“The appellant misled this court in accepting the scores he had claimed was his.
“The said judgment of this court will sooner or later hunt our electoral Jurisprudence,” Mr. Nweze said.