Ukaegbu won the primary conducted by the Lamidi Apapa constituted electoral panel in the state on April 16
A Bayelsa State federal high court has affirmed that Ikechukwu Ukaegbu is the authentic gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Imo State, in the forthcoming election.
The off-cycle governorship election is scheduled to hold on November 11, but the protracted leadership tussle within LP at the national level led to the emergence of more than a candidate for the position.
According to TheCable, Justice Emma Akko, the presiding judge, while delivering ruling on Friday, June 24, said Ukaegbu is the rightful candidate of the party, having won the gubernatorial ticket in the primaries conducted by the Lamidi Apapa constituted electoral panel in the state on April 16.
Akko said the primaries conducted by the Julius Abure-led faction of the LP in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states were unlawful and illegal.
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He added that the primaries were conducted at the time Abure was restrained by a court from parading himself as the party’s national chairman.
The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately upload names of candidates who emerged through “valid primaries” conducted in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states.
Nze Akujobi, Imo state chairman of the LP, hailed the court’s judgememt and described it as a true reflection of the will of the party.
He congratulated Ukaegbu and expressed confidence in his ability and the party to win the forthcoming guber election.