Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has declined the plea by Lamidi Apapa’s faction to block the Labour Party’s candidate, Athan Achonu, from participating in the upcoming Governorship election in Imo State. The faction, represented by their counsel Mohammed Ndarani Mohammed, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, saw their request rejected by the Judge on the grounds of prematurity.
During the ruling, Justice Ekwo carefully reviewed the affidavit evidence from both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Apapa’s faction. Ultimately, he concluded that the issues at hand were too complex to be resolved through the ex-parte motion sought by Apapa’s faction.
He expressed, “From the averments of INEC and the claims of the plaintiffs in this matter, it is crystal clear that contentious issues that cannot be resolved through ex-parte means are involved.” He further emphasized that the matter should be determined on its own merit, not through an ex-parte application.
Apapa’s faction had filed an ex-parte application seeking an interim injunction restraining INEC from recognizing any other person, aside from Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph, as the gubernatorial candidate in the Imo State elections. They also demanded that INEC recognize Ukaegbu Joseph as the authentic flagbearer for the party in Imo State.
Additionally, they sought a mandatory order against INEC, insisting that the names of Lamidi Apapa and Lawal Saleh be uploaded as the national chairman and national secretary of the party, respectively.
Subsequently, Justice Ekwo directed both parties to appear before him on November 23 to present their cases for a determination based on merit rather than through an ex-parte application.
During the proceedings, INEC acknowledged the Labour Party’s candidate, Athan Achonu, represented by lawyer Okwudili Anozie, who had sought to be joined in the suit. The Judge instructed him to file his process within seven days and return on November 23.
The governorship candidate, Athan Achonu, stated that he learned about Apapa’s suit through media publications and requested the court’s permission to join the case, enabling him to defend his nomination.
