Supreme Court Upholds Senator Athan as Imo LP Gubernatorial Candidate

Abuja, Nigeria – Jubilation and excitement filled the air at the Labour Party (LP) secretariat in Abuja as the Supreme Court affirmed Senator Athan Achonu as the official Labour Party gubernatorial candidate for the upcoming November 11 governorship election in Imo State.

Senator Achonu, who is visually impaired, is on a quest to become the nation’s first physically challenged governor through the special election in Imo State.

This ruling comes as a result of an objection raised by Basil Maduka, a disgruntled aspirant from the LP’s previous primaries. Maduka contested Achonu’s candidacy in both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. However, the apex court decisively dismissed the case on Thursday, citing a lack of legal standing or “locus standi.”

A panel of five justices, led by Justice Iyang Okoro, not only upheld Achonu’s candidacy but also reprimanded the appellant for what they deemed an abuse of the court process and a waste of the courts’ valuable time.

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Kehinde Edun, the National Legal Officer of the LP, commended the Supreme Court justices for their decision, noting that they had ensured justice was served in the case.

“The justices determined that the case lacked the necessary legal standing and subsequently dismissed it. Furthermore, they chastised the petitioners’ legal team for the frivolous nature of the case and the undue strain it placed on the judicial system,” Edun stated.

Senator Athan Achonu’s determination and this Supreme Court ruling bring him one step closer to potentially making history as Nigeria’s first physically challenged governor.