SUPPORTERS of former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva flooded into Porto Alegre today prior to a court ruling in the city on whether to overturn his highly contentious corruption conviction.

Over 15,000 activists camped out overnight near the court while thousands more gathered in Porto Alegre and other cities.

Mr da Silva, more commonly known as Lula, could be able to stand in October’s election if his appeal is successful. He enjoys a considerable lead as the likely candidate of the Workers Party, whose Dilma Rousseff-led government was removed in a “constitutional coup” in 2016.