SaharaReporters on Monday reported that the Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja overturned the decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja and removed Akpabio as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District.
The Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has said that he would approach the highest court in the land to seek redress on the Appeal Court judgement which nullified his election as the APC candidate for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District.
SaharaReporters on Monday reported that the Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja overturned the decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja and removed Akpabio as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District.
This was made in a ruling delivered by a three-judge panel presided over by Justice Danlami Senchi on Monday, stating that Akpabio failed to file a proof of arguments within the time frame specified by the rules.
The appellate court also ruled that Akpabio, as an APC presidential candidate, could not participate in the party's valid primary held on May 27 and overseen by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which produced Udom Ekpoudom as a candidate.
A Federal High Court in Abuja had on September 22 asked electoral body, INEC to reinstate Senator Akpabio as APC’s candidate, being the candidate nominated by the party in the second primary of June 9.
The lower court had directed that INEC accepts the former Minister of Niger Delta as the APC flagbearer.
The court also ordered that INEC publish Akpabio’s name as APC senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North/West senatorial district in 2023, stating that the Commission acted illegally by refusing to accept and publish the former governor’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.
The trial Judge faulted INEC for electing to monitor the May 27 primary, conducted by an illegal faction of the party led by Augustine Ekanem as against the June 9 primary authorized conducted by the APC NWC.
The former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs in a statement he personally signed said that the lawyers on his advice and brief had commenced the scrutiny of the contents of the judgement as read, for the purposes of seeking appropriate legal redress.
He said; “My attention has been drawn to the judgement delivered by the Court of Appeal Abuja Division, directing the INEC to delist my name from their list as the APC senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District in the forthcoming 2023 elections.”
He also advised his supporters, party members and all his constituents to “remain calm and law-abiding, as they continue their campaigns for the successes of the APC in Akwa Ibom North West, Akwa Ibom State and the Nigeria at large.”
“It is instructive to mention that I was not a party in the said Appeal though orders were made against me and my interest. While awaiting a copy of the said judgement to be made available to me and any other interested party, it is important to state that I am a lawyer by training and a law abiding citizen of this country and I am bound by our laws and judgements emanating from our courts including the one under reference
“My lawyers on my advice and brief have commenced the scrutiny of the contents of the judgement as read, for the purposes of seeking appropriate legal redress.”
“I am aware that the Supreme Court of Nigeria has the final say in these matters. I, therefore, strongly advise my supporters, APC members and all my constituents to remain calm and law abiding, as they continue their campaigns for the successes of the APC in Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria at large,” he added.