INEC disagrees with Apapa faction over plea to replace Imo LP guber candidate

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Friday, urged a Federal High Court, Abuja, not to grant the ex-parte motion filed by Alhaji Lamidi Apapa-led Labour Party (LP), seeking to replace the party’s governorship candidate in Imo.

INEC, in its affidavit to show cause pursuant to the court order, told Justice Inyang Ekwo that the plaintiffs’ suit was statute-barred.

The commission’s counsel, Adenike Adedeji, while adopting the application, said the electoral umpire filed the affidavit on November 9 in reaction to the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1357/2023, which was filed on November 6.

She urged the court to dismiss the motion as the subject matter of the plaintiffs’ case was pre-electoral, which ought to have been filed 14 days after the actual cause of action.

Adedeji, who argued that the case was statue barred, said the court lacked jurisdiction to hear and determine same.