Benin City– The Federal High Court in Benin City, presided over by Justice Babatunde Quadri, on Monday, dismissed a lawsuit filed by Kenneth Imansuangbon challenging the candidacy of Olumide Akpata for the Edo State governorship race.
The court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit, stating that the case was without merit and based on speculation.
Justice Quadri noted that Imansuangbon failed to exhaust the internal dispute resolution mechanisms within the Labour Party before seeking legal action. This failure, according to the court, deprived it of the jurisdiction to hear the case.
Additionally, the court found that Imansuangbon’s claim regarding Akpata not signing the Indemnity Form was statute-barred, further contributing to the court’s lack of jurisdiction in the matter.
Justice Quadri declared the lawsuit premature and lacking substantial evidence to support its claims. As a result, the ruling upholds Olumide Akpata’s position as the Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate for the upcoming Edo State elections.
