The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on Thursday affirmed the nomination and substitution of Kadiri Asamah as the Labour Party’s deputy governorship candidate for the Edo gubernatorial election fixed for September 21.

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a judgment, agreed with the argument of the party’s lead counsel, Johnson Usman, that the party had complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and other regulations in nominating Mr Asamah as its running mate for the poll.

On February 23, the party conducted its governorship primary election in Edo, where Olumide Akpata won as its standard-bearer.

Mr Akpata subsequently nominated Olayinka Faith Alufohai as his running mate. Ms Alufoha, however, withdrew her nomination on March 8 and was deposed to an affidavit of withdrawal in support of her letter of withdrawal, which she submitted to the party.

Upon her withdrawal, Mr Akpata nominated Mr Asamah as his new running mate whose name and personal particulars were submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission and uploaded on its portal on April 15.

However, INEC refused to publish Mr Asamah’s name.

Dissatisfied with the electoral umpire’s decision not to publish his name, the Labour Party and Akpata, through their counsel Johnson Usman, SAN, filed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/556/2024 to sue INEC as the sole defendant.

They urged the court to direct INEC to accept and publish Mr Asamah’s name as the party’s deputy governorship candidate.

Delivering the judgment, the judge agreed with the argument of Mr Usman that Ms Alufohai, having withdrawn her candidature, the Labour Party had the right to submit another name as the party’s running mate.

The judge held that the Labour Party submitted Mr Asamah’s name as a deputy governorship candidate within the time provided by Sections 29 (1), 31 and 32, 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022.

The judge, therefore, said INEC had no latitude in rejecting the name.

Consequently, he ordered INEC to accept and publish the name of “Kadiri Yusuf Asamah, SAN, as the running mate/deputy governorship candidate of the Labour Party for the forthcoming Edo State Governorship Election fixed for 21st September 2024.”

(NAN)