A Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, has affirmed Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph as the Labour Party (LP) gubernatorial candidate for the 2023 Governorship Election in Imo State.
The judge, Justice B. O Quadri said Chief Ukaegbu is the valid candidate of the Labour Party and the primary election held on April 16, 2023, was legitimate.
The plaintiff, Basil Maduka, had claimed that the primary election took place on April 15, 2023, but Justice Quadri found no merit in this assertion. 
The court determined that Basil Maduka, the plaintiff, did not participate in the party’s primary election and therefore lacked the standing to bring the case against the defendant.
Consequently, Justice Quadri ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph’s name as the authentic Gubernatorial Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the 2023 Governorship Election in Imo State.
Previous ruling had established that Julius Abure was suspended by the FCT High Court. Any primary, screening, or party activities conducted by Abure were deemed non-existent.
As a result, Lamidi Apapa was declared the authentic Acting National Chairman. This ruling further solidifies the validity of the April 16, 2023 primary, affirming Ikechukwu Joseph Ukaegbu as the legitimate candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the November 11, 2023 election in Imo State.
