Splendour Eze, the Labour Party’s nominee for governor in the state, won the primary election held on June 9 and was validated by a Federal High Court in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
In his decision on the matter on Wednesday, August 3rd, Justice Fatun Liman held that the primary that resulted in Edward Nkwegu being the party’s second candidate for governor was invalid because it had violated the constitution.
He maintained that the party’s previous June primary election was still legitimate because Eze never withdrew as a candidate.
Eze’s attorney, Barr Michael Odoh, praised the verdict and said that since his client hasn’t withdrawn, he continues to be the party’s legitimate candidate in Ebonyi.
He said: “My client is the governorship candidate of LP and he has not withdrawn. And not until he withdraws, no other candidate can emerge as a candidate in that party.
“The court had upheld the primary that was conducted earlier in June in favour of Splendour and set aside the purported second primary held yesterday, August 2, 2022.
“People should abide by the electoral act and party guidelines. If you want to take over from a candidature of a political party, where a candidature was validly nominated and the name of the person already forwarded to INEC; the person has to withdraw his candidature in writing, then after that withdrawal, that is when another person can take over.
“My client, Splendour remains the governorship candidate of Labour Party in the state and no other person.”
In his response, Eze praised the judiciary for upholding its duties and characterized the verdict as a win for youths over moneybags.
He claimed that with the victory, I had a clear path to victory in the general elections of 2023.
