BREAKING: Appeal Court Sacks PDP Governorship Candidate in Southern State

• Micheal Enyong is no longer the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom state
• The Court of Appeal in Abuja in a ruling on Tuesday evening, February 21, sacked Enyong who is a serving federal lawmaker
• After sacking Enyong, the appellate court restored Umo Eno as the PDP's authentic guber candidate in the south-south state

FCT, Abuja - The Court of Appeal in Abuja has sacked Micheal Enyong as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom state.

The court presided by Justice Hamma Akawu Barka gave the verdict on Tuesday evening, February 21, Nigerian Tribune reported.

Court restores Umo Eno as Akwa Ibom PDP guber candidate

Meanwhile, after sacking Enyong who is a serving member of the House of Representatives, the appellate court restored Umo Eno as the PDP guber candidate in Akwa Ibom state.

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Legit.ng gathered that Eno, a former commissioner for land, won the PDP guber primaries but his nomination was set aside by a Federal High Court in Abuja in January.

However, the appeal court found merit in Eno's application, voided the judgement of the Federal High Court, and set it aside on the ground that it was predicated on errors.

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Justice Barka agreed with Eno's counsel that the Federal High Court judgment was delivered in error and that the court was misled by the plaintiff in the matter to arrive at an unjust conclusion.

The judge held that the issue of statutory delegates voting at the primary election is an internal affair of the party and that the lower court ought not to have enquired into the issue.

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He also agreed with Eno's lawyers that the National Working Committee (NWC) of a political party has the power to conduct primary elections for the nominating of candidates for the general election.

The appellate court further held that since the lower court has no jurisdiction to inquire into the internal affairs of PDP, the judge has no discretion in law to exercise in the matter.

Justice Barka thereafter upheld the appeal of the PDP and vacated all orders made by the Federal High Court judgment in favour of Michael Enyong.

PDP expels Micheal Enyong

In another unfolding development, the PDP in Akwa Ibom state has reportedly expelled Enyong.

Legit.ng notes that the report of the expulsion comes amid the appeal court judgement which asked the lawmaker as the governorship candidate of the party for the 2023 elections.

Enyong was reported to have been sacked over allegations of forgery.

Source: Legit.ng