Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 22, 2024, as the date to deliver judgment in a suit filed by Barrister Kenneth Imansuangbon to challenge the emergence of Olumide Akpata as the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the forthcoming election in Edo State.
At yesterday’s proceedings, parties in the matter through their lawyers adopted their written addresses after addressing the court.
In his submissions, Imansuangbon’s lawyer, A. A. Malik (SAN), who led other nine lawyers, pleaded with the court to declare his client as the winner of the Labour Party’s primaries, noting that Akpata violated the electoral act and INEC guideline and therefore not qualified to stand as the LP governorship candidate.
Malik hinged his plea on the allegation that Olumide gave false information concerning his acquisition of citizenship of another country in the documents he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He argued that Akpata while filling INEC form EC 9 “stated his name to be Akpata Olumide Anthony, which is different from and not the same as Akpata Olumide Osaigbovo” which he earlier stated on oath to be his name and under which he contested and reportedly won the primary election of the LP.
The lawyer wanted the court to determine whether Akpata “has not supplied or otherwise given false information to the INEC within the meaning or contemplation of the provisions of Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022 read together with section 182(1) (a) and (j) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)”.
On the discrepancy surrounding the choice of running mate to Olumide, Malik argued that Alufokhai Oluyinka Faith’s withdrawal has further exposed her and shouldn’t have bothered coming to court adding that “INEC does not have her record of substitution as far as INEC is concerned Olumide Akpata does not have a valid substitution as required by INEC and the electoral act”.
“Therefore Olumide must carry the baggage and therefore be disqualified by Section 29 of the electoral act and Imansuangbon should be declared as the winner”, the lawyer said.
In his response, Akpata’s lawyer, J.J Usman (SAN), asked the court to dismiss the suit for lacking in merit. He also urged the court to discount the plaintiff’s arguments on the alleged discrepancy in the names of his clients, saying Akpata Olumide Anthony and Akpata Olumide Osaigbovo are the same person.
After listening to the submissions of parties, Justice Egwuatu fixed July 22 for judgement
It would be recalled that another Federal High Court in Benin had on June 11 also fixed July 19 as the date to deliver judgment on a similar case.