JUSTICE Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja today ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept and publish the name of Godswill Akpabio, as the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for Akwa Ibom North/West Senatorial District in the next year’s election.
Delivering Judgement, Justice Nwite, held that INEC acted illegally by refusing to accept and publish Akpabio’s name even when it was sent to it by the APC as it’s candidate.
Nwite said the commission lacked power to have disqualified the 2nd plaintiff (Akpabio).
“I hereby declared that the defendant (INEC) publish the name of the 2nd plaintifff as the authentic candidate,” he said.
The suit filed before Nwite, the APC and Akpabio are 1st and 2nd plaintiffs respectively while INEC is the sole defendant.
INEC had recently cautioned the APC against its choice of candidate for the Akwa Ibom North-west Senatorial seat.
The commission said the name of the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Akpabio, submitted by the party remained invalid until the party followed due process.
Udom Ekpoudom had emerged as the party’s candidate in the primary alleged to have been supervised by INEC officials in the constituency.
However, the party submitted the name of Akpabio in his place.
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