A Federal High Court in Abuja has again refused the application by the Lamidi Apapa’s faction to stop the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Athan Achonu, from contesting this Saturday’s governorship election in Imo State on the platform of the party.
Justice Inyang Ekwo on Friday held that the contentious issues as contained in the affidavit of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), cannot be resolved through an ex parte application.
The judge, therefore, ruled that the application, which was brought by the counsel to the faction, Mohammed Ndarani Mohammed (SAN), was premature.
“That being the case, I am of the opinion that the interest of justice would be better served if this matter is determined on its own merit and not through ex-parte application as requested by the plaintiffs,” he held.
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Apapa’s faction had in the ex-parte application marked FCH/ABJ/CS/1357/2023 applied for an order of interim injunction restraining INEC from recognizing Achonu, and rather to recognise Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph, who emerged from its primary election of April 16.
The suit has been adjourned to November 23.
