Legal Blow for Apapa Faction as Court Rejects Bid to Bar Labour Party Candidate in Imo Election
In a setback for the Lamidi Apapa faction, the Federal High Court in Abuja rejected an ex-parte application seeking to prevent Athan Achonu, the Labour Party candidate, from participating in Imo State’s gubernatorial election. Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered Apapa’s faction to put the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on notice, allowing them to present their case against Achonu’s candidacy.
The faction had applied for an interim injunction to stop INEC from recognizing any candidate other than Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph, who emerged from Apapa’s primary election. The court, however, refused to grant such an order, directing the faction to turn their ex-parte motion into a motion on notice and serve it on INEC. Further mention in the case is scheduled for November 10.
