Edo gov: Suit against LP candidate, Akpata, shifted to Friday
A Federal High Court on Thursday in Benin, Edo State, adjourned hearing in a suit filed by a governorship aspirant of the Labour Party, Kenneth Imasuangbon, challenging the nomination of Olumide Akpata as the candidate of the party for the Edo governorship election till Friday.
The hearing of the pre-election matter slated to commence on Thursday suffered a setback following an oral application for a short adjournment by Akpata’s counsel, Mr. N.E Ogbeide, on the grounds that he was yet to be served with court processes.
But counsel for the plaintiff, A. A Malik (SAN), opposed the application, saying that the case was ripe for hearing as they responded to the first defendant’s processes and served the same on them since May 22, 2024.
The presiding judge, Justice Babatunde Quadri, ordered the court file to be shown to the disputing counsel, following which the first defendant’s counsel, N.E Ogbeide, conceded that the plaintiff’s processes have been served on them within the jurisdictional address.
Consequently, Justice Quadri adjourned the hearing in the suit till 2pm on Friday.
Imasuangbon is challenging the nomination of Akpata, claiming the party did not follow the electoral guidelines in the primaries and that he (Akpata) did not fill and sign the indemnity form among other grounds.
