Court nullifies Akwa Ibom APC gubernatorial primary
A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, overturned the all-progressive Congressional gubernatorial primary held on May 26, 2022.
Judge Agatha Okeke ordered the APC to conduct a new gubernatorial primary within 14 days.
The case was brought by a former senator, Ita Enang, who claimed to be the validly elected APC candidate in Akwa Ibom.
Delivering judgment on Monday, November 14, Judge Okeke agreed with Mr. Enang’s argument and ruled that the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Akanimo Udofia, was not a member of the APC, did not having not participated in all stages of the process of electing a candidate for the office of governor of the party.
Judge Agatha Okeke also disqualified Udofia from participating in the primary.
The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission not to recognize Udofia nor to accept him as a candidate in accordance with article 77 paragraph 3 of the electoral law.
Mr Udofia was a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and had bought the PDP nomination forms to contest the party’s gubernatorial primary in Akwa Ibom before defecting to the APC.
