An Abuja high court presided over by Hon. Justice D.U. Okorowo has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise and accept Idahosa Igbinigie as the authentic candidate of the Labour Party for Oredo East constituency II in the election to the Edo State House of Assemby on Saturday, March 18, 2023.

Justice Okorowo gave the order while rulling on a motion brought by the Labour Party, 1st Applicant on behalf of Igbinigie, 2nd applicant against INEC.

LP had filled a motion Ex-Parte dated March 8, 2023 praying the court for an interim order mandating the respondent (INEC) to accept the 2nd Applicant, Igbinigie as the LP’s candidate for Oredo East Constituency for the Edo State House of Assembly election earlier scheduled to hold on March 11, now shifted to March 18, 2023, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

Granting the motion, Justice Okorowo declared, “After reading through the affidavit in support of the motion sworn to by the 2nd applicant, Idahosa Igbinigie Peter, of No. 28 Ogbelaka Street, Off Sakponba Road, Benin City, Edo State, together with written address and exhibits attached thereto and filled at this court registry, and after hearing Isa Uthman, Esq, for the applicants moved in terms of motion paper and prayed the court to grant the reliefs sought by the applicants, this honourable court this 8th day of March, 2023 hereby ordered as follows:

“That an Interim order of this honourable court is hereby made mandating the respondent to accept the 2nd applicant as 1st applicant’s candidate for Oredo East constituency, Edo State House of Assembly election scheduled to hold on the 11th March, 2023 or any other date pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

“This case is adjourned to 22nd March 2023 for the hearing of both the motion on notice and the substantive suit.

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