An aspirant in the Edo State Labour Party (LP) governorship primary election has filled a suit at the Federal High Court in Benin, challenging the outcome of the exercise primaries, which produced Olumidae Akpata, as the candidate of the Party for the November 2024 Governorship election in the State.
The plaintiff, Kenneth Imansuangbon, a member of the Party who also participated in the exercise, in an originating summon sighted by ait.live, is seeking an order of the Court to dismiss Akpata as the elected candidate of the Labour Party.
The plaintiff is praying amongst other things, for the Court to declare null and void the entire process of the February 23, 2024 primary election, claiming that it was in violation of the provisions of Section 222(c) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
Imansuangbon is equally seeking for an order if the Court, directing Labour Party to immediately issue a Certificate of Return to him as the winner of the primary election.
The Plaintiff is asking the Court in the alternative, to issue an order commanding, directing or otherwise mandating Labour Party to organize or conduct a fresh primary election, not later than 30 days after the judgement
of this court, for the purpose of electing or selecting its candidate or standard bearer for the forthcoming Governorship election in Edo State, in line or in strict compliance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act, 2022.
A date is yet to be fixed for hearing of the suit.
Editor: Ken Eseni