A Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State, has declared Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph as the authentic Labour Party (LP) Gubernatorial Candidate in 2023 Governorship Election in Imo State.
After considering the evidence before him while Justice B. O. Quadri, in his judgement, held that the primary election that produced Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph on the April 16 was valid
According to him, the primary election for the LP towards the November 11 governorship election in the state did not hold on April 15 as claimed by the Plaintiff, Basil Maduka.
He ruled that the Plaintiff was never an aspirant in the nomination process as he never participated in the Party’s primary election.
Therefore, Justice Quadri stated that the Plaintiff lacked the locus standi to Institute the case against the defendant.
He ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to publish the name of Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph as the authentic Gubernatorial Candidate of Labour Party, LP, for the 2023 Gubernatorial Election in Imo State.
The judge relied on the FCT High Court injuction earlier which suspended Julius Abure that declared any primary or screening as well as any party activities done by him invalid thereby upholding the Acting National Chairman Lamidi Apapa as the authentic Chairman.
Hence, he declared the 16th April 2023 primary is valid which confirms the candidate of Ikechukwu Joseph Ukaegbu as authentic candidate of LP in Imo State in November 11, 2023 election.
