The Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital on Wednesday sacked the gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Edward Nkwagu 24 hrs after his election.
The sack followed a suit filed against Nkwagu, by Mr. Splendour Oko-Eze, who was on June 9, 2022 elected as the governorship candidate of the party in Ebonyi.
The Labour Party held it’s first primary election on June 9, where Mr Oko-Eze emerged as the Gubernatorial candidate of the party in Ebonyi
However, a faction of the party on August 2, held another primary election which produced Arch. Edward Nkwagu as the governorship candidate of the party.
Angered by the new development, Mr. Oko-Eze approached the court seeking recognition as the authentic chairman of the party in the state.
In his ruling, Justice Fatun Riman, upheld the party primary held earlier on June, thereby declaring Mr Splendour Oko-Eze, as the authentic governorship candidate of the party, adding that the he has not withdrew from the race.
Court nullified the primary held on Tuesday, August 2 that produced Edward Nkwegu as another governorship candidate of the party in the state.
Ritman, said that another candidate cannot emerge in a political party as a flag bearer when the candidate who was duly elected has not withdraw from the race.
In his reaction, Counsel to Splendour, Mr Michael Odoh, applauded the court for upholding the June 9th primary election that produced Mr. Eze-Oko, insisting that his client has not withdrawn from the race.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to Odoh, “the court has said it and my client remains the authentic Candidate of the party in Ebonyi as he has not withdrawn.
“My client is the Gubernatorial candidate of LP and he has not withdrawn.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 2.
“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 duly elected 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, the sacked LP Guber candidate, refused to pick several calls put across to him by our reporter, at the time of filing this report.