Court nullifies Akwa Ibom APC guber primaries

A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, on Monday, nullified the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries that produced Akanimo Udofia as the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the state for 2023 general election.

The presiding judge, Justice Agatha Okeke, in her judgement, ordered that a fresh primary election be conducted within 14 days.

Justice Okeke said the Akwa Ibom APC governorship primaries committee violated provisions of the Electoral Act in conducting the primaries, noting that there was no evidence that the procedures adopted for the primaries were in line with the Act.

She dismissed the purported waiver granted Udofia and ordered the party to conduct another primary election where an authentic governorship candidate would emerge.

The judge said the weight of evidence before the court showed that no election was held, adding that the nomination of Udofia was null and void.

Justice Okeke ordered that the second defendant (APC) should, within 14 days, conduct a fresh election just as she also ordered that the first defendant (Udofia) be disqualified from participating in the fresh primaries.

Sen. Ita Enang, an aspirant in the May 26 primaries, had challenged the legitimacy of the outcome by approaching the court.

Joined in the suit were Udofia, the APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the first, second, and third defendants, respectively.

The Star