Imo 2023: Court Gives Final Verdict Over Labour Party’s Guber Candidacy Battle

• The Labour Party (LP) gubernatorial candidate for the Imo State governorship election has finally been confirmed
• The federal high court in Owerri, the state capital, affirmed Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph as the authentic candidate
• The presiding judge ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately affix Ukaegbu's name on their record

Imo, Owerri - Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph has been affirmed as the authentic governorship candidate of the Labour Party for Saturday, November 11, gubernatorial elections in Imo State.

As reported by Daily Sun, Ukaegbu was affirmed by the federal high court in Owerri by the presiding judge, Justice BO. Quadri.

In his ruling, Justice Quadri said the primary election that produced Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph on April 16, 2023, was valid after considering the evidence before him.

Justice Quadri stated that the party's primary elections did not hold on April 15, 2023, as claimed by the Plaintiff, Basil Maduka.

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In furtherance to his ruling, Justice Quadri said the plaintiff was never an aspirant in the nomination process as he never participated in the party's primary election.

He said the plaintiff's case lacked locus standi to initiate such a suit against the defendant.

According to the Leadership newspaper report, the presiding judge instructed Nigeria's electoral body, INEC, to publish the name of Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph as the legit governorship candidate of the party.

How Ukaegbu became LP's guber candidate

An earlier report revealed that the FCT High Court's suspension of Julius Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party meant that any party activities he conducted would not be recognised by law.

This decision led to the declaration of Pa Lamidi Apapa as the party's acting national chairman.

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This development means any primary election held within that time frame is valid, an advantage which Ukaegbu benefited from and confirmed him as the Imo State gubernatorial candidate for Labour Party.

Imo 2023: Defection hits PDP as top members swap to APC

In another development, the Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is becoming formidable ahead of the crucial off-cycle gubernatorial polls.

On Monday, June 19, the ruling party received defectors from the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, received them at the Imo State House in Owerri, the state capital.

Source: Legit.ng