Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, affirmed the nomination of Prince Kadiri Asamah (SAN) as the deputy governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Edo State.
The judge in a ruling agreed with the argument of the party’s lead counsel, Johnson Usman (SAN), that the LP had complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and other regulations in nominating Asamah as its running mate for the poll.
The LP had on February 23 conducted its governorship primary in Edo State with Olumide Akpata emerging as the party’s candidate for the September election in the state.
Akpata subsequently nominated Olayinka Faith Alufohai as his running mate.
Alufoha, however, withdrew her nomination on March 8 and deposed to an affidavit of withdrawal in support of her letter of withdrawal which she submitted to the party.
Following her withdrawal, Akpata nominated Asamah as his new running mate and his name and personal particulars were submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
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Asamah’s name and particulars were uploaded on the commission’s portal on April 15.
However, INEC refused to publish Asamah’s name.
Dissatisfied with the commission’s decision, LP and Akpata in a suit filed by their counsel, Johnson Usman (SAN), urged the court to direct INEC to accept and publish the name of Asamah as the party’s deputy governorship candidate in Edo.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite agreed with the argument of Usman that Alufohai, having withdrawn her candidature, the LP had the right to submit another name as the party’s running mate.
He held that the LP submitted the name of Asamah as deputy governorship candidate within the time provided by provisions of Sections 29 (1), 31, and 32, 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
The judge, therefore, said that INEC had no latitude to reject the name.
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