Court Dismisses Disqualification Suit
The Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed the suit challenging Olumide Akpata’s candidacy for the Edo State election. Kenneth Imasuangbon filed the suit, contesting Labour Party’s primary election results. The court ruled that Imasuangbon failed to exhaust internal party conflict resolution mechanisms before suing. Justice Okon Abang also stated that Imasuangbon’s case lacked sufficient evidence against Akpata. With this decision, Akpata’s candidacy for the Edo governorship race remains valid.
Lack of Evidence Against Akpata
In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Okon Abang, the three-member panel of the Court of Appeal held that the allegations against Akpata were not backed by substantial evidence. Imasuangbon had claimed that Akpata did not sign the Indemnity Form during the party’s primary election. However, the court found that the allegations were statute-barred and could not be entertained due to the failure to meet legal prerequisites.
Failure to Tender Election Results
The court criticised Imasuangbon for not presenting the disputed results from the Labour Party’s February 23 primary election. Imasuangbon claimed victory in the election but failed to provide any supporting evidence. Justice Abang noted that this lack of evidence significantly weakened his case. Imasuangbon also did not call any substantial witnesses from the primary election to strengthen his claims. The court ruled that the appeal was premature and could not proceed without meeting the necessary legal requirements.
Federal High Court Decision Upheld
The Court of Appeal upheld the earlier judgment of the Federal High Court in Benin, which had dismissed Imasuangbon’s case for lack of merit. Justice Babatunde Quadiri, who presided over the initial case, ruled that Imasuangbon’s claims were unsubstantiated and did not justify disqualifying Akpata from the race.
Labour Party’s Victory in Court
The Labour Party has welcomed the Court of Appeal’s ruling as a victory for democracy and fair competition. Akpata’s supporters expressed relief at the judgment, which allows him to continue his campaign for the Edo State governorship election scheduled for September 21.
Imasuangbon May Appeal Further
Despite the ruling, sources close to Kenneth Imasuangbon have hinted that he may pursue further legal action in an attempt to overturn the decision. The Labour Party, however, remains confident that the courts will continue to uphold Akpata’s candidacy.
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