Court Adjourns Suit Seeking To Stop Imo LP Candidate
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday declined to hear the suit by the Lamidi Apapa’s faction of the Labour Party to stop the party’s candidate, Athan Achonu, from participating in Saturday’s governorship election in Imo State.
Achonu had emerged as the winner of the Julius Abure-led Labour Party primary election, while Ukaegbu Joseph won the primary election conducted by the Apapa’s faction.
The Apapa’s faction in the ex-parte application marked FCH/ABJ/CS/1357/2023 applied for an order of interim injunction restraining INEC from recognising or according recognition to any other person laying claim to the governorship ticket of the party in the state other than Joseph who emerged from Apapa led primary election of April 16, 2023.
They also sought an order of mandatory injunction compelling INEC to recognise and upload the name of Joseph as the authentic candidate of the party.
The faction further demanded a mandatory order against INEC that the name of Apapa be uploaded as the national chairman of the party as well as Alhaji Lawal Saleh as national secretary.
The presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, ordered the faction to turn the ex-parte motion to motion on notice and serve the same on INEC.
“I am not granting you this application today INEC must be allowed to explain its side in this matter, “the Judge said.