A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo has rendered the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries that produced Mr Akanimo Udofia as Akwa Ibom candidate of the party for 2023 general election null and void.
The presiding Judge, Justice Agatha Okeke, in her judgement, ordered that a fresh primary be conducted in the next 14 days, saying that the APC governorship election committee violated the provisions of the Electoral Act in conducting the primaries because there was no evidence that the adopted procedures were in line with the act.
Okeke dismissed the purported waiver that granted Udofia and ordered the party to conduct another primary election, following the right procedures, where an authentic governorship candidate will emerge.
She said the weight of evidence before the court holds no water as it literally shows that no election was held and the nomination of Udofia was null and void.
The judge therefore ordered that the second defendant shall, within 14 days, conduct a fresh election and that the first defendant (Udofia) be disqualified from participating in the fresh primary election.
Joined in the suit were Udofia, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as the first, second and third defendants. The plaintiff’s Counsel, Mr Nsikak Akpan, expressed his satisfaction with the judgement of the court.
