* Supreme Court’ll have the final say, ex-minister vows
The Abuja division of the Court of Appeal has set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court Abuja, thereby removing Godswill Akpabio as the Akwa Ibom North West senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A three-member panel of Justices led by Justice Danlami Senchi, on Monday, held that Akpabio failed to file a proof of arguments within the time provided by the rules.
The panel further ruled that Akpabio, being a presidential aspirant of the APC, could not participate in the valid primary of the party held on May 27 and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which produced Udom Ekpoudom as a candidate.
A Federal High Court in Abuja, on September 22, asked INEC to reinstate Senator Akpabio as the APC candidate nominated by the party in the second primary of June 9.
The lower court had directed that INEC accepts the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs as the APC flag bearer for the senatorial district election.
The court also ordered that INEC publish Akpabio’s name as APC senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North/West senatorial district in 2023, stating that the Commission acted illegally by refusing to accept and publish the former governor’s name when it was submitted to it by the APC as its candidate.
Justice Emeka Nwite, who delivered judgment, held that Akpabio was validly nominated as the Akwa Ibom North/West Senatorial District candidate of the APC from the primary conducted by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on June 9, 2022.
The trial Judge chastised INEC for electing to monitor the May 27 primary conducted by an illegal faction of the party led by Augustine Ekanem, against the June 9 primary conducted by the APC NWC.
Predictably, Akpabio said he will proceed to the Supreme Court to upturn the judgment of the Appeal Court, which nullified his election as candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Akwa Ibom Northwest senatorial district.
He also advised his supporters, party members and all his constituents to “remain calm and law-abiding, as they continue their campaigns for the successes of the APC in Akwa Ibom North West, Akwa Ibom and Nigeria at large.”
In a statement he personally signed in Uyo, Akpabio said: “My attention has been drawn to the judgement delivered by the Court of Appeal Abuja Division, directing the INEC to delist my name from their list as the APC senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District in the forth coming 2023 elections.
“It is instructive to mention that I was not a party in the said Appeal though Orders were made against me and my interest.
“Whilst awaiting a copy of the said judgement to be made available to me and any other interested party, it is important to state that I am a Lawyer by training and a law abiding citizen of this country and I am bound by our laws and judgments emanating from our courts including the one under reference.
“My lawyers, on my advice and brief, have commenced the scrutiny of the contents of the judgment as read, for the purposes of seeking appropriate legal redress.
“I am aware that the Supreme Court of Nigeria has the final say in these matters. I therefore, strongly advise my supporters, APC members and all my constituents to remain calm and law abiding, as they continue their campaigns for the successes of the APC in Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria at large.”