2023: Another Huge Blow for APC as Court of Appeal Sacks Prominent Candidate
- A Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has reportedly sacked former minister Godswill Akpabio as the APC candidate for Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district
- The appellate court ruled that Akpabio failed to file proof of arguments within the time provided by the rules
- A three-member panel of the court held that the former Niger Delta minister, being an APC presidential aspirant, could not participate in the valid primary of the party held on May 27
FCT, Abuja - The Abuja division of the Court of Appeal has set aside the judgment of Federal High Court Abuja, removing Godswill Akpabio as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district.
According to Channels TV, a three-member panel of justices read by Justice Danlami Senchi on Monday held that Akpabio failed to file a proof of arguments within the time provided by the rules.
Source: Facebook
The panel further ruled that Akpabio, being a presidential aspirant of the APC, could not participate in the valid primary of the party held on May 27 and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which produced Udom Ekpoudom as a candidate.
How Akpabia won in Federal High Court
A Federal High Court in Abuja had on September 22 asked INEC to reinstate Senator Akpabio as APC’s candidate, being the candidate nominated by the party in the second primary of June 9.
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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.
According to the court, the commission acted illegally by refusing to accept and publish the former governor’s name when the APC submitted it 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.
Court sacks Akan Udofia as APC governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom
In a related development, Akan Udofia, the governorship candidate of the APC in Akwa Ibom state, has been sacked.
The Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state, ruled that Udofia did not qualify to contest the APC governorship primary election in the state.
The court then ordered the APC to conduct a fresh governorship primary election in the state in 14 days.
Source: Legit.ng
