A demand has been made by Kenneth Imasuangbon, a governorship aspirant under the Labour Party in Edo State, for the disqualification of Olumide Akpata, the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the state, from the upcoming September 21 election.
Imasuangbon, through his legal representative A.A. Malik & Co, filed lawsuit No. FHC B/CS/26/2024 at the Benin division of the Federal High Court, alleging that the Labour Party made an error in declaring Olumide Akpata as the winner of the party’s primary election held on February 23, 2024.
Additionally, Imasuangbon initiated another lawsuit at the Abuja division of the Federal High Court, claiming that Akpata provided false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and lied under oath.
In the Abuja suit filed on April 12, 2024, Akpata, along with the LP, Akpata’s running mate Alufohai Faith, and INEC, were named as defendants.
Imasuangbon argued in the Benin suit that Akpata’s candidacy was in violation of section 222(c) of the Nigerian constitution and Article 28 of the party’s primary election guidelines.
Furthermore, Imasuangbon requested the court to invalidate the votes obtained by Akpata in the primary.
The plaintiff presented nine issues for the court’s determination and sought 18 declarations, including setting aside the LP’s February 23 governorship primary in Edo State.
Imasuangbon urged the court to decide on whether Akpata was qualified to participate in the primary due to his failure to sign or endorse the indemnity form provided by the party.
He also questioned the validity of the votes secured in the primary given the alleged disregard for constitutional provisions.
Imasuangbon requested the court to prevent INEC or any other entity from recognizing Akpata as the LP’s gubernatorial candidate for the September 21 election in Edo State.
Furthermore, he called for the withdrawal of the certificate of return issued to Akpata as the primary’s winner and requested the court to award N20 million as the cost of the litigation, as well as to mandate a new primary within 30 days of the court’s ruling.
In the Abuja suit, Imasuangbon accused Akpata of providing misleading information to INEC in form EC9 by indicating his name as Akpata Olumide Osaigbovo instead of Akpata Olumide Anthony.
Imasuangbon argued that Akpata’s actions contravened electoral laws and sought his disqualification from participating in the Edo State gubernatorial election on September 21.