By DADA AYOKHAI
A Federal High Court sitting in Bayelsa State, on Friday, June 23, 2023, declared Evangelist Joseph Ikechukwu Ukaegbu (Ikenga) as the authentic candidate of Imo Labour party for November 11, 2023 governorship election in the state.
The court also declared as illegal and unlawful, the April 15th Governorship Primary Election conducted by Julius Abure-led faction of the party in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states.
Delivering judgment in a suit brought before it by Sir Basil Maduka, challenging Ukaegbu’s emergence, Justice Emma Akko declared Evangelist Joseph Ikechukwu Ukaegbu the authentic candidate of the party for the 2023 Imo Governorship Election having emerged through the April 16th Imo Guber PrimaryElection conducted by Lamidi Apapa constituted electoral panel in the state.
The court also declared as illegal, the Governorship Primary Election conducted in Bayelsa and Kogi states on April 15th by Julius Abure led faction of the party, noting hat Abure was suspended and restrained from parading himself as national chairman of the party by Abuja High Court at the time of conduct of the guber primaries in the states
The court further held that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should upload names of candidates who emerged through valid primaries conducted in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi States on 16th April, 2023 by Lamidi Apap- led National Working Committee of the party.
