Supreme Court restores Akpabio as APC Akwa-Ibom North-West Senatorial candidate

After months of legal tangle, the nomination of Sen. Godwill Akpabio as the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for Akwa-Ibom North-West Senatorial District for the February 25 poll has been affirmed by the highest court in the land.

The Supreme Court on Friday delivered a unanimous judgment of a five-member panel of the court led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun affirming Akpabio’s senatorial candidacy.

In a lead judgment read by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, the Supreme Court set aside the November 14, 2022 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which voided Akpabio’s nomination.

Persecondnews recalls that in November 2022 the Court of Appeal in Abuja had ordered INEC to delist Akpabio as the APC senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District in the 2023 elections, saying the lower court erred in declaring him as the candidate for the position.

Also, the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo had nullified the APC primaries and held that Udofia was not qualified to contest for the governorship ticket of the party.

Akpabio had approached the Supreme Court to appeal the judgment.

Retired DIG Ekpo Udom was recognized by the then Resident Electoral Commissioner, Akwa Ibom State, Mike Igini for winning the APC primary.

After months of legal tangle, the nomination of Sen. Godwill Akpabio as the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for Akwa-Ibom North-West Senatorial District for the February 25 poll has been affirmed by the highest court in the land.

The Supreme Court on Friday delivered a unanimous judgment of a five-member panel of the court led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun affirming Akpabio’s senatorial candidacy.

In a lead judgment read by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, the Supreme Court set aside the November 14, 2022 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which voided Akpabio’s nomination.

Persecondnews recalls that in November 2022 the Court of Appeal in Abuja had ordered INEC to delist Akpabio as the APC senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District in the 2023 elections, saying the lower court erred in declaring him as the candidate for the position.

Also, the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo had nullified the APC primaries and held that Udofia was not qualified to contest for the governorship ticket of the party.

Akpabio had approached the Supreme Court to appeal the judgment.

Retired DIG Ekpo Udom was recognized by the then Resident Electoral Commissioner, Akwa Ibom State, Mike Igini for winning the APC primary.