The Federal High Court in Uyo has ordered a fresh governorship primary for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom to be conducted within two weeks.
The court on Monday also declared Akan Udofia, who had earlier laid claim to the guber ticket “unqualified” to participate in the fresh governorship primary, nullifying the election that produced him.
Justice A. A. Okeke gave the judgement on Monday where she dismissed the APC waiver given to Akan Udofia.
Delivering judgement in the suit marked ITAN ENANG v AKAN UDOFIA, APC & INEC FHC/UY/CS/144/2022″ Justice Okeke ruled that the Governorship primary of APC purportedly conducted on the 26 MAY 2022 is null and void.
It would be recalled a former Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs, Ita Enang had filed the case challenging the candidacy of Udofia.
Enang had alleged that Udofia was not an APC member as at the time the poll was conducted, noting that Udofia contested the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary held on May 25 before coming to contest the APC primary on May 26.
Meanwhile, Justice Okeke concurred with Mr Enang’s argument, and ruled that Udofia was not a member of the APC as he did not participate in all the stages of the process for electing a governorship candidate of the party.
The purported governoship primary of APC in the state won by Akan Udofia was reportedly hijacked by party bigwigs such as Senator Godswill Akpabio on one hand and camp of senator John James Akpan Udoedehe on the other hand.
Also recall Udoedehe later dumped the party for New Nigeria People Party (NNPP) leaving the likes of Ita Enang, Atuekong Don Etiebet and Capt Sam Ewang among other APC bigwigs in Akwa Ibom.
