The Court of Appeal, Abuja division has truncated the senatorial bid of former Governor of Akwa Ibom state and Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio.
The court, on Monday, set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court Abuja, that had on September 22 asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reinstate Akpabio as All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, as nominated by the party in the second primary of June 9.
Akpabio is seeking to return to hallowed red chamber for a second time to represent Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District.
A three-member panel of justices lead by Justice Danlami Senchi, held that Akpabio failed to file a proof of arguments within the time provided by the rules.
The panel further ruled that the former governor, being a presidential aspirant of the APC, could not participate in the valid primary of the party held on May 27 and monitored by INEC, which produced Udom Ekpoudom as a candidate.
The Federal High Court Abuja, had in it judgement directed that INEC accepts Akpabio as the APC flagbearer. It also ordered that INEC publish Akpabio’s name as APC senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North/West senatorial district in 2023.
It further stated that the Commission acted illegally by refusing to accept and publish the former minister’s name when it was submitted to it by the APC as its candidate.
Justice Emeka Nwite who delivered judgment held that Akpabio was validly nominated as the Akwa – Ibom North/West Senatorial District candidate of the APC from the primary conducted by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on June 9, 2022.
Nwite faulted INEC for electing to monitor the May 27 primary election conducted by an illegal faction of the party led by Augustine Ekanem as against the June 9 primary authorized conducted by the APC NWC.
