A/Ibom: Court sacks Akpabio as APC senatorial candidate

• Nullifies gov’ship primary, orders rerun

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has sacked Senator Godswill Akpabio as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District. 

A judgment of a three-member panel of justices, read by Justice Danlami Senchi on Monday, held that Akpabio failed to file proof of arguments within the time provided by the rules. 

The panel further ruled that Akpabio, being a presidential aspirant of the APC, did not participate in the primary of the party held on May 27 and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which produced Udom Ekpoudom as candidate. 

A Federal High Court in Abuja had on September 15 asked INEC to reinstate Senator Akpabio as APC’s candidate, being the candidate nominated by the party in the second primary of June 9. 

Similarly, A Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has nullified the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary that produced Akanimo Udofia as its candidate for the 2023 elections.

The court, in a ruling by Justice Agatha Okeke, ordered that a fresh governorship primary be conducted within 14 days.

Justice Okeke gave the ruling on Monday while delivering the judgment on the case instituted by Senator Ita Enang, an APC governorship aspirant and former aide to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs.

Enang had sued Udofia, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), challenging the legitimacy of the governorship primary.

In determining the substantive suit, the judge noted that the APC Governorship Election Committee violated the laid down provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act (as amended), saying there was no evidence before the court that the procedures adopted by the second defendant (APC) were held.

Justice Okeke held that the aspirants were not given equal opportunity to campaign, adding that the weight of evidence before the court showed that no election was held and that the nomination of Udofia was “null and void and therefore set aside.