Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The Abakaliki Division of the Federal High Court on Wednesday quashed the substitution primary of the Labour Party which it held on Tuesday to replace its governorship candidate.
It therefore sacked the new gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party, LP, Mr. Edward Nkwagu, who was elected in the substitution primary on August 2nd, 2022.
The sack of Nkwagu by the federal High court, followed a suit filed by Mr. Splendour Oko-Eze who was had emerged from the June 9th primary as the governorship candidate of the party.
In his ruling, Justice Fatun Riman, said the party primary held earlier in June was still authentic as the candidate, Mr Splendour Oko-Eze, has not withdrawn from the race.
Riman said that another candidate could not emerge in a political party until a candidate who was validly nominated as its candidate has withdrawn.
Counsel to Splendour, Mr Michael Odoh, applauded the court for upholding the June 9th primary election that produced Mr. Eze-Oko, adding that his client has not withdrawn from the race.
According to Odoh, “the court has said it and my client remains the authentic candidate of the party in Ebonyi as he has not withdrawn.
“My client is the Gubernatorial candidate of LP and he has not withdrawn. And not until he withdraws, no other candidate can emerge as a candidate in that party.
“The court has upheld the primary that was conducted earlier in June in favour of Splendour and set aside the purported second primary held yesterday, August 2.
“People should abide by the electoral act and party guidelines. If you want to take over from a candidature of a political party, where a candidate was validly nominated and the name of the person already forwarded to INEC, the person has to withdraw his candidature in writing, then after that withdrawal, that is when another person can take over,” he stated.
