The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, affirmed Akanimo Udofia as the Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for Akwa Ibom State in the March 11, 2023 election.

The three-man panel of the Court led by Justice Elfreda Oluwayemisi Williams-Dawodu JCA set aside the judgement of the lower Court and upheld the Appeals: Suit Nos: CS/C/371/2022
(APC v. Enang & 2 Ors) and CS/C/370/2022
(Udofia v. Enang & 2 Ors.).

The Appeal Court held that Akan Udofia is the duly nominated candidate of the APC for the 2023 Governorship election in Akwa Ibom State. The appellate court averred that the federal high court did not have jurisdiction over the case, having been filed out of time by the petitioner, Ita Enang.

Recall that the pre-election suit was filed by an aggrieved Governorship Aspirant, Ita Solomon Enang with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC and Udofia as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.

Enang's grouse as contained in his statement, through his counsel, Ntufam Mba Ukweni SAN is that the Governorship primary, which produced Mr Udofia, was done in outright contravention of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 as it was not monitored by INEC. He is also seeking the court to order for a re-conduct of the Primaries in line with party guidelines and the law.

Justice Agatha Anulika Okeke of the Uyo Federal High Court, in a November 2022 judgement, invalidated the Purported Primary and ordered a fresh one in 14 days, excluding Udofia.

Dissatisfied with the judgement, Udofia and APC approached the penultimate Court.

Bornbiafra:
Hmm... another court will soon say different things

Penguin2:
I hate the way judges endorse the rascality of some politicians.

In 2019, Okorocha forced INEC returning officer to declare him Senator at gunpoint. The returning officer later went and made report at INEC office in Owerri and INEC took Okorocha to court. At the end of the day, Appeal Court endorsed Okorocha’s rascality.

Now, APC clearly disobeyed INEC guidelines in their Akwa Ibom Primaries but a court is endorsing that rascality.

No be only politicians be our problem for this country.

Cantonese:
Ita Enang should go and sit down abeg. He has been there in the corridors of power since 1999.

lomila:
LP will win Akwa ibom. Watch

Afamed:


Labour Party is like Andrew Liver Salt, it bubbles and dissolves after 1 mint

mrksquare:
Appeal court is the final bus stop.

fergie001:

fergie001:
It's a pre-election suit, it will go to the Supreme Court.

frank14011991:
Good in 2019 PDP started the senatorial election with 6 0 after rivers and ZAMFARA disqualification. But now APC are 2 0 up after imo west and adamawa Central PDP disqualification

garfield1:
I told you that there were too many loopholes in the case of ita enang and fhc judgment left a lot of landmines for enang and he can't escape all.apart from it being filed out of time,the sc in recent judgments have stated that once nwc monitors primaries,it is valid no matter whether INEC is present or not...the apc guber polls promises to be a titanic battle.cc saintkeppy

garfield1:


It and bwacha case will likely be upheld.I think today or tomorrow is judgment for akpabio

fergie001:

Once it was filed out of time, every other thing becomes academic.

garfield1:


Wait,when was pdp disqualified in Adamawa? Am not aware.but pdp primaries was cancelled in bauchi south and they haven't held a new one...cc fergie001

frank14011991:
The primary that produced the PDP senatorial candidate for adamawa Central iya Abbas who is the current speaker for adamawa state house of assembly was cancelled after one of its candidate did not resigh his appointment before contesting. Abdulazeez nyako of APC will win almost unopposed

garfield1:
I am not sure it was filed out of time.but even if it is,the merit will be discussed for future purpose

garfield1:

Oh yes I remember that case.but I dont think it will stand sha but whatever the case, nyarko will winl

garfield1:


Wait,when was pdp disqualified in Adamawa? Am not aware.but pdp primaries was cancelled in bauchi south and they haven't held a new one...