Kenneth Imansuangbon approached the Edo and Abuja Divisions of the Federal High Courts, challenging Olumide Akpata’s nomination as the party’s candidate for the September 21 governorship election.

Mr Imansuangbon’s challenge is on the grounds of LP not following the electoral guidelines in the primaries and Mr Akpata not filling and signing the indemnity form, among other grounds.

After two adjournments, the case eventually came up for hearing on Tuesday with counsel to the parties adopting their written addresses.

Mr Imansuangbon’s lead counsel, A.A. Malik (SAN), alleged that the first defendant (Mr Akpata) violated critical elements of the electoral processes and party constitution.

Mr Malik pointed out that his client had disclosed a reasonable cause of action on the matter and urged the court to reject the first defendant’s submission.

He also prayed the court to declare and return the plaintiff as the winner or, on the alternative, void and nullify the primary election, ordering a fresh election.

He alleged that the LP primaries were marred by overvoting and violating party guidelines and the constitution.

Meanwhile, the defence counsel, Kadiri Asamah (SAN), who doubles as Mr Akpata’s running mate, described the plaintiff’s submission as baseless and unable to be litigated by the court.

He added that it was a pre-primary issue and, as such, be dismissed by the court.

While adopting all the arguments in his written addresses, Mr Asamah urged the court to dismiss the plaintiff’s written addresses as an abuse of court processes.

The LP primaries were conducted on February 23. 

(NAN)