A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, on Wednesday sacked the gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party, LP, Arch. Edward Nkwegu who was elected in August.
Nkwagu’s sack followed a suit filed by Mr Splendour Oko-Eze.
The Trumpet gathered that the Labour Party held its first primary election on June 9, 2022, and produced Oko-Eze as the gubernatorial candidate of the party.
The court also nullified the primary held on Tuesday, August 2 that produced Edward Nkwegu as another governorship candidate of the party in the state, saying it was null and void.
In his ruling, Justice Fatun Riman said the party primary held earlier in June was still authentic as the candidate, Oko-Eze has not withdrawn from the race.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candidate could not emerge in a political party until a candidate, who was validly nominated as its candidate has withdrawn.
Responding, the 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the court for upholding the June 9th primary election that produced Mr Eze-Oko, adding that his client has not withdrawn from the race.
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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to Odoh, “the court has said it and my client remains the authentic Candidate of the party in Ebonyi as he has not withdrawn.
“My client is the Gubernatorial candidate of LP and he has not withdrawn.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 had 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 candidature 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.”
Nkwagu did not pick up several calls from our reporter, at the time of filing this report.
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