Court nullifies Akwa Ibom APC governorship primary

A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has nullified the All Progressives Congress governorship primary conducted on May 26, 2022.

The judge, Agatha Okeke, ordered the APC to conduct a fresh governorship primary within 14 days.

The case was instituted by a former senator, Ita Enang, who claimed that he was the validly elected candidate of the APC in Akwa Ibom.

Delivering judgment on Monday, Nov. 14, Justice Okeke agreed with Mr Enang’s argument and ruled that the governorship candidate of the party, Akanimo Udofia, was not a member of the APC, having not participated in all the stages of the process of electing a governorship candidate of the party.

Justice Agatha Okeke also disqualified Udofia from participating in the primary.

The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission not to recognise Udofia nor accept him as a candidate according to section 77 sub-section 3 of the Electoral Act.

Mr Udofia was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and had bought the PDP nomination forms to contest the party governorship primary in Akwa Ibom before he defected to the APC.