Appeal court affirms Akpata as Edo LP guber candidate

The court of appeal in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to void the nomination of Olumide Akpata as governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Edo state.

On February 23, Akpata was declared the winner of the primary election conducted by the Julius Abure faction of the LP.

He polled 316 votes to beat Kenneth Imasuagbon and four other aspirants in the primary poll.

Aggrieved by the outcome, Imasuagbon approached the federal high court in Edo state to challenge the process of the primary election.

However, Babatunde Quadri, trial judge, dismissed the suit for lacking merit.

Quadri ruled that Imasuagbon failed to exhaust the internal dispute resolution mechanisms within the party before seeking legal action.

The court further held that Imasuagbon’s claim of Akpata not signing the indemnity form was statute-barred.

Not satisfied with the verdict, Imasuagbon proceeded to the court of appeal.

In the judgment delivered on Wednesday, a three-member panel of the appellate court agreed with the decision of the lower court.

In the lead judgment delivered by Okon Abang, the court jeld that Imasuangbon failed to explore the inter-conflict resolution mechanism of the party.

Abang further held that the appellant failed to tender the disputed results of the February 23 primary election of the party which he claimed to have won.

Abang faulted the appellant for failing to call any witnesses to prove his case.

The court also said that Imansuangbon’s allegations that Akpata did not sign the indemnity form is statute-barred and therefore lacked jurisdiction.

The Edo state governorship election will be held on September 21.