The Supreme Court has affirmed Godwin Akpabio as the authentic APC candidate for the Akwa-Ibom North-West senatorial District election slated for the 25th of February 2023.
Justice Ibrahim Saulawa while delivering its judgment held that the issue of nomination of a candidate for election borders on the domestic affairs of a political party.
As the trial and appellate erred in law to have entertained the suit because they lacked jurisdiction.
The Akwa-Ibom North-West senatorial district ticket of the ruling APC has been the subject of intense litigation following the party’s declaration of Akpabio as its flagbearer for the senatorial seat election slated for the 25th of February 2023.
Akpabio had lost out in the APC presidential primary in Abuja. But APC had nominated him as its candidate for the senatorial election despite that he did not participate in the party’s senatorial primary election, but INEC refused to recognise Akpabio as a candidate has failed to participate in the party’s primary election.
Udom Ekpoudom approached the federal high court in Abuja asking it to recognise him as the authentic candidate for the APC, instead the court ordered INEC to recognise Akpabio as the candidate.
MUST READ:Court of Appeal disqualifies Godswill Akpabio as APC Senatorial candidate
On appeal, the decision of the lower court was upturned and affirmed Ekpoudom as the party’s authentic candidate.
Displeased with the decision, the APC and Akpabio appealed against the decision of the court of appeal to the Supreme Court where three appeals emanated from, and the court affirm Akpabio as the authentic candidate for the Akwa-Ibom North-West senatorial district.
Two other sister appeals pending were also dismissed.
Editor: Hadiza.A.A
