Edo Labour Party Leadership Tussle: Federal High Court Refuses To Restrain Ogbaloi-led State Working Committee
The Federal High Court 2 in Benin City on Monday, July 22, 2024, heard the ongoing dispute over the chairmanship of the Labour Party in Edo State.
The case filed by Rt. Hon. Elizabeth Ativie against Kelly Ogbaloi came up before Hon. Justice (Prof.) Chuka Obiozor, resulting in a crucial decision and a date for final judgement.
The proceedings began with an application by the plaintiff, Rt Hon. Elizabeth Ativie, seeking an interlocutory injunction to restrain the defendant, Kelly Ogbaloi, from presenting himself as the State Chairman of the Labour Party in Edo State. However, after intense deliberations and arguments from both sides, Justice Obiozor struck out the application for the interlocutory injunction, effectively refusing to restrain Ogbaloi from his current activities within the party.
Following this initial ruling, the court proceeded to hear arguments on the substantive suit, which had been initiated through an originating summons. Legal representatives for both Ativie and Ogbaloi engaged in a heated exchange of legal arguments, presenting their cases.
The dispute, which has been a source of controversy within the Edo State chapter of the Labour Party, has drawn significant attention from party members and political observers alike.
After carefully considering the arguments presented, Justice Obiozor announced that the court will deliver judgement after the annual vacation of the court. Consequently, he adjourned the matter to September 23, 2024, for judgement. This is exactly two days after the Edo State gubernatorial election.
