Court Sack’s Nkwegu, Uphold’s Oko-Eze Candidature

Court Sack’s Nkwegu, Uphold’s Oko-Eze Candidature

From Beverly Ehia,
Abakaliki,

Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, in Wednesday sacked Mr. Edward Nkwegu as
the gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party, LP.

Nkwegu was on Tuesday August 2, 2022 elected to be the guber candidate of LP but was sacked the following day.

Nkwegu’s dismissal by the federal High court, followed a suit filed by Mr. Splendour Oko-Eze who was earlier on June 9th produced as the authentic governorship candidate of the party in Ebonyi.

Labour Party (LP) held it’s first primary election on June 9, 2022 and produced Mr Splendour Oko-Eze as the Gubernatorial candidate of the party in Ebonyi.

But the court however nullified the Tuesday, August. 2 primary elections that produced Edward Nkwegu as another governorship candidate of the party in the state, saying it was null and void.

In his ruling, Justice Fatun Riman, upheld the earlier primaries held on June thereby making Mr Splendour Oko-Eze the authentic guber candidate of LP come 2023 general elections.

READ ALSO: Appeal Court Upholds Defection Of Ebonyi Governor, Deputy To APC

Ritman said that another candidate could not emerge in a political party until a candidate, who was valid nominated as it’s candidate has not withdrawn.

Responding in an interview shortly after the sitting, the Counsel to Splendour, Mr Michael Odoh applauded the court for upholding the June 9th primary election that produced Mr. Eze-Oko, adding that his client has not withdrawn from the race.

According to Odoh, “the court has said it and my client remains the authentic Candidate of the party in Ebonyi as he has not withdrawn.

“My client is the Gubernatorial candidate of LP and he has not withdrawn. And not until he withdraws, no other candidate can emerge as a candidate in that party.

“The court had upheld the primary that was conducted earlier in June in favour of Splendour and set aside the purported second primary held yesterday, August.

“People should abide by the electoral act and party guidelines. If you want to take over from a candidature of a political party, where a candidate was validly nominated and the name of the person already forwarded to INEC; the person has to withdraw his candidature in writing, then after that withdrawal, that is when another person can take over” he stated

When contacted for his reactions, the sacked LP guber candidate, Edward Nkwagu refused to pick up several calls put forward to him by our reporter, at the time of filing this report.