By Prince Eze
The Athan Achonu governorship ambition seems to be slipping out of his hands as a Court of Appeal has affirmed Lamidi Apapa as the authentic national chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
Reports say the Imo Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja took the decision on Thursday following the ongoing legal battle between Lamidi Apapa and Julius Abure over the chairmanship of the Labour Party.
Earlier this August, an Appeal Court declaration had pronounced Abure as the LP chairman..
The Appeal Court is said to have also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the names of all the candidates presented by the Apapa-led faction of the LP in the Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa State governorship elections.
Political and legal analysts say the implications of this latest court decision is that Chief Ikechukwu Ukaegbu is now the legally recognized governorship candidate of the Labour Party for the November 11 Imo gubernatorial election.
Recall that on April 5, 2023, a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court restrained Julius Abure and three other members of the Labour Party (LP) from parading themselves as national officers of the party.
Justice Muazu later granted an order of stay execution on the suspension of Abure and the other officers in another ruling delivered on May 19, 2023.
The Edo State High Court aligned itself with the ruling in a judgement delivered on May 28, 2023, and declared Abure as the LP national chairman. This stance was also strengthened by an Appeal Court ruling in Edo State, affirming Abure as the party chairman.
Led counsel to Apapa’s legal team, Barr. Monday Marwa, speaking on Channels TV shortly after the declaration of Apapa as the authentic National Party Chairman said: “The Appeal Court in Abuja has officially announced all the (Guber) Candidates who emerged winners during the party primaries under Mr.Apapa as the authentic party flagbearers for the exercise in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi States;
“Therefore, in Imo State, Ikenga Ikechukwu Ukaegbu is the valid LP Guber Candidate for the Nov.11th polls;
“Infact, the Appeal Court in Abuja has strictly mandated INEC to immediately produce/publish the names of all the candidates who emerged as winners of the party primaries as the valid candidates of the party for the forthcoming polls;
“That means, Ikenga Ikechukwu Ukaegbu is the valid and authentic Imo LP Guber Candidate for the November exercise”.
In his own reaction, the Imo State LP chairman recognized by the Apapa national leadership, Nze Akujobi, praised the court’s ruling, adding that it truly reflects the will of the party.
Akujobi while felicitating with Chief Ukaegbu, expressed confidence in his ability and Labour Party to win the November 11 gubernatorial election.