By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
A Federal High Court presided over by Justice Babatunde Quadri in Benin City has reserved judgement to July 19, 2024, suit challenging the nomination of Barrister Olumide Akpata as Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate.
Imansuangbon had approached the Federal High court in Benin and Abuja and challenged the nomination of Barrister Olumide Akpata as the candidate of the party for the gubernatorial election slated for September 21st, 2024.
Imansuangbon is challenging the nomination of Akpata on the grounds that the LP did not follow the electoral guidelines in the primaries, and that he (Olumide) did not fill and sign the indemnity form among other grounds.
After two adjournments in the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Benin, the case eventually came up for hearing Tuesday where written addresses from counsels of the plaintiff and defendants were adopted.
Lead counsel to the plaintiff, A. A. Malik (SAN), in his argument prayed the court to dismiss the submission of the counsel to Akpata on the ground that the 1st defendant (Akpata ) violated the electoral act and party’s constitution which he noted are critical elements of the electoral processes.
Malik who pointed out that the plaintiff has disclosed reasonable cause of action on the matter, urged the court to throw away the submission of the 1st defendant, declare and return the plaintiff as the winner or on the alternative void, nullify the primary election and order a fresh election.
He alleged that the conduct of the LP governorship primary was marred with over voting which, according to him, was in contrary to the party guidelines and constitution.
On his part, the counsel to the defendant and running mate to Olumide Akpata, Kadiri Asamah (SAN) submitted that the argument and submission of plaintiff was baseless, and can’t be litigated upon by the court.
He added that it was a pre-primary issues and as such be dismissed by the court
Asamah, while adopting all the arguments contained in his written addresses, urged his Lordship to dismiss the written addresses of the plaintiff.
He added that it was an abuse of court processes.
Addressing newsmen after the court session, Imansuangbon, however, expressed confidence in the ability of the court to dispense justices in the matter, even as he reiterated his desire in his struggle to bring about a better Edo for all.