Breaking: Appeal Court Declare Blessing Azibanagbai As The Governorship Candidate Of Labour Party In November 11th Bayelsa Gubernatorial Election

By Eragbe Anslem, Abuja

Frontline Governorship Aspirant of the Labour Party in the November 11th Bayelsa Gubernatorial election, Mrs Blessing Clement Azibanagbai, has been declared as the valid governorship candidate of the party in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the State.

Recall that the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri on Thursday, 20th July, 2023, nullified the governorship candidates of the Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi States respectively, for the November 11th gubernatorial election.

The Court of Appeal in an unanimous judgment of three (3) man panel of Judges declared the governorship candidates of the Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the Labour Party, as the valid candidates of the party in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi States respectively, for the November 11th gubernatorial election.

The nullification of the governorship candidates of the Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party came as a result of Abure’s disobedience to court order restraining him as the national chairman of the party, and went ahead to conduct parallel governorship primary elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi States.

While the Acting National Chairman of the Labour Party, Lamidi Apapa in accordance with the decision of the National Working Committee of the party conducted valid governorship primary elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi States for the November 11th gubernatorial election.

The implication of the judgment is that, it is only the governorship candidates that emerged from the Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the Labour Party are valid governorship candidates of the party in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi States respectively, for the November 11th gubernatorial election.

Therefore, the court nullifying the candidate of the Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party in Bayelsa State, while recognizing the candidate of the Lamidi Apapa-led faction, Mrs Blessing Clement Azibanagbai automatically becomes the valid governorship candidate for the November 11th gubernatorial election.

The Court of Appeal further ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize the governorship candidates of the Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the Labour Party, as the valid candidates in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi States for the November 11th gubernatorial election.