Justice Inyang Ekwo of the federal high court in Abuja has rejected a request to disqualify Athan Achonu of the Labour Party.
The judge on Thursday rejected the request seeking to stop Achonu from participating in the Saturday Imo state gubernatorial election.
The request was contained in an ex-parte application by the Lamidi Apapa faction of the Labour Party.
The judge instructed Apapa and his group members to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the lawsuit’s existence, allowing INEC to present its defense.
Background
The faction, in their ex-parte application marked FCH/ABJ/CS/1357/2023, had requested an interim injunction to restrain INEC from recognizing any other individual claiming the gubernatorial ticket of the party in Imo State for the election scheduled for November 11, except Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph, who emerged from Apapa’s primary election on April 16, 2023.
Additionally, the faction sought a mandatory injunction compelling INEC to recognize and publish Ukaegbu Joseph’s name as the authentic gubernatorial and party flagbearer in Imo State.
They also demanded a mandatory order against INEC to upload Lamidi Apapa’s name as the national chairman of the party, along with Alhaji Lawal Saleh as the national secretary.
Read Also : Suspended Adamawa REC Evades Arraignment
Court’s Decision
Justice Ekwo in his ruling considered the arguments made by the lawyer and declined to grant the request.
He ordered the faction to convert the ex-parte motion into a motion on notice and serve it on INEC, which is the sole defendant in the case.
“I am not granting you this application today, and you have to bring INEC to Court to come and explain its side in this matter,” the Judge stated.
The Judge however adjourned the case for November 10, allowing Apapa’s faction to present their grievances and enabling INEC to respond with its defense.