Court Sacks Akpabio As APC Senatorial Candidate
Category: Nigeria News
The Court of Appeal has nullified the candidacy of the former Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio, as the All Progressives Congress, APC, senatorial candidate for Akwa-Ibom North/West District in the 2023 General Elections.
The judgment was delivered on Monday evening in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
Recall that the Federal High Court had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to recognize Akpabio as the APC Senatorial candidate.
Justice Emeka Nwite, the lead judge then,
held that INEC acted illegally by refusing to accept and publish Akpabio’s name
after it was sent by APC, following which it ordered INEC to accept and publish
Akpabio’s name as APC senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North/West senatorial
district in 2023.
READ: Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio Sacked From The Senate - Report
However, the appellate court has set aside the
judgement.
A three-member panel of justices led by Justice Danlami
Senchi ruled that Akpabio failed to file a proof of arguments within the time
provided by the court rules.
The panel further held 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.
READ: Akpabio Withdraws Case Challenging Election Defeat
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