Justice Emeka Nwite, of the Federal High Court 8 in Abuja, on Thursday, declared former Minister, Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, the authentic candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District.
According to a statement issued by Jackson Udom, the Chief Press Secretary to Akpabio, the court also ordered the electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission, to immediately, publish the names and particulars of Akpabio as the authentic candidate of the APC for the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.
According to the statement, the court also said that INEC lacked the power to disqualify Akpabio, having emerged from a validly held primary of his party.
Delivering the landmark judgement, Justice Nwite, noted that “The defendant couldn’t have picked or choose for the plaintiff whose name should be sent or published.”
The court also held that “the Independent National Electoral Commission can’t legitimize an illegal enterprise noting that the APC was in full compliance and has its candidate for Akwa Ibom North West District.”
According to Justice Nwite, “INEC should not create a new criteria for qualification of candidates and cannot unilaterally pronounce an election invalid. It is for the court to do so not INEC. No law empowers INEC to reject a candidate nominated by a political party.
INEC isn’t an aspirant. INEC isn’t NWC of a party.”
The court also declared that “the decision not to monitor a valid primary election held on June 9, 2022 is unlawful and the plaintiff has never been disqualified by a court. INEC therefore, lacks the power to disqualify Akpabio.”
