FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
A Federal High Court, sitting in Benin City presided over by Justice Babatunde Quadri has reserved judgement to the 19th July, 2024 on the candidacy legal tussle in the Labour party Governorship primaries conducted February 23nd , 2024.
Imansuangbon had approached the Federal High court in Benin and Abuja challenging the nomination of Barrister Olumide Akpata as the candidate of the party for the gubernatorial election slated for September 21st, 2024.
Kenneth Imansuangbon is challenging the nomination of Olumide Akpata on the grounds that the Labour Party party did not follow the electoral guidelines in the primaries and that he (Olumide) did not fill and sign the indemnity form among other grounds.
After two adjournments in the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Benin, the case eventually came up for hearing Tuesday where written addresses from counsels of the plaintiff and defendants was adopted.
Led Counsel to the plaintiff, A. A Malik (SAN), in his argument had prayed the court to dismissed the submission of the counsels to Olumide Akpata on the ground that the 1st defendant violated the electoral act and party’s constitution which he noted are critical elements of the electoral processes.
Malik also pointed out that plaintiff have disclosed reasonable cause of action on the matter and urged the court to throw away the submission of the 1st defendant, declare and return the plaintiff as the winner or on the alternative void, nullify the primary election and order a fresh election.
He alleged that the conduct of the LP primaries was marred with over voting which runs contrary against the party guidelines and the constitution.
On his part, the counsel to the defendant and running mate to Olumide Akpata, Kadiri Asamah (SAN) submitted the argument and submission of plaintiff is baseless and can’t be litigated upon by the court adding that it was a pre-primary issues and as such be dismissed by the court.
Asamah while adopting all the arguments contained his written addresses urged his Lordship to dismissed the written addresses of the plaintiff adding that it was an abuse of court processes.
Addressing newsmen after the court session, Barrister Kenneth Imansuangbon however expressed confidence in ability of the court to dispense justices in the matter even as he reiterated his desire in his struggle to bring about a better Edo State for all.
