Court Upholds Senator Akpabio’s Election

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Friday, December 11th, 2015

By Ganiyu Nasirudeen

BALTIMORE, MD (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – A court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, Friday upheld the Election of the Senate Minority Leader and former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio.

In a unanimous ruling by the three-man panel led by Justice Moshood Oredola, the appellate court quashed the appeal filed by Chief Inibehe Okori of the ruling All‎ ‎Progressives Congress (APC).

The court ruled that ‎the South South State’s National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal acted properly when it struck out the joint petition by Okori and the APC filed before it on April 18, 2015, stating that Akpabio, was validly elected to represent Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District.

Consequently, the appellate court held that the appellants failed to prove that Akpabio was not duly nominated by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to contest the March 28, 2015 election.

Justice Oredola ruled for the fact that Akpabio was on the initial list which was sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), by the PDP and erroneously identified as the Senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North East, did not necessarily invalidate his election.

Citing the provisions of section 65(2) of the 1999 constitution, as amended, and section 138 (1) of the Electoral Act, the court declared that Akpabio was duly nominated in accordance with the law.