Court Of Appeal Sacks Akpabio As APC Senatorial Candidate

Former Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio has been sacked by the Court of Appeal as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District.

A three-member panel of justices led by Justice Danlami Senchi while delivering judgement on Monday held that Akpabio failed to file a proof of arguments within the time provided by the rules.

The panel further ruled that the former Governor of Akwa Ibom who contested in the presidential primary of the ruling party could not participate in the valid primary of the party held on May 28 and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which produced Udom Ekpoudom as a candidate.

The Appeal Court on Monday also set aside the judgement of the Federal High Court Abuja.

The Federal High Court had on September 22, asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reinstate Senator Akpabio as APC’s candidate, being the candidate nominated by the party in the second primary of June 9.

The presiding Judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, in his ruling noted that INEC acted illegally by refusing to accept and publish Akpabio’s name even when APC forwarded his name as its candidate.