Appeal Court orders INEC to recognise Udofia as Akwa-Ibom APC Gov candidate

• Published date: 19 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Akanimo Udofia as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State.

In a judgment on Thursday, a three-member panel of the court, led by Justice Elfreda Williams-Daudu, allowed the appeal by Udofia and set aside the November 14, 2022 judgment by Justice Agatha Okeke of the Uyo division of the Federal High Court.

Justice Okeke had upheld a suit filed by a former presidential aide, Senator Ita Enag, nullified the primary that produced Udofia and ordered the party to conduct fresh primary within 14 days.

Justice Mohammed Idris, in the lead judgment, found that the judgment of the Federal High Court was given without jurisdiction.

Justice Idris held that the plaintiff in that case at the Federal High Court was without the requisite locus standi to have instituted the case.

He added that it was wrong for the trial court to have assumed jurisdiction over the case when the plaintiff was without the requisite locus standi.

The third member of the panel, Justice Danlami Senchi...