By Joshua Chibuzo Andrew, Owerri
The ambition of Senator Athan Achonou to contest the forthcoming gubernatorial poll in Imo State suffered another setback as the Appeal Court sitting in Owerri on Friday, July 21 dismissed his suit challenging his sack as candidate of the Labour Party (LP).
Delivering its judgement, the three-member panel of judges, led by Honourable Justice J.A Sankey in a unanimous decision, dismissed Achonu’s appeal for lacking competence.
Recall that a Federal High Court sitting in Bayelsa State had on 23rd June, 2023 sacked Achonu as candidate of the LP for the November 11 off-season governorship poll in Imo State.
The court affirmed Evangelist Joseph Ikechukwu Ukaegbu as the authentic gubernatorial candidate of the party.
Sir Basil Maduka, a contestant in the April 16, 2023 primary poll of the party had dragged Ukaegbu to court challenging his emergence as candidate of the party.
The court not only affirmed Ukaegbu as the validly nominated candidate but also nullified the results of the April 15, 2023 primary poll of the party which produced Achonu as candidate.
Observers say the only window open to Achonu is to head to the Supreme Court.
