Supreme Court Affirms Udofia As Akwa Ibom APC Guber Candidate

The Supreme Court has confirmed Akan Udofia as the standard governorship flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State for the 2023 election.

In a unanimous judgement on Tuesday, March 7, Naija News understands that the court struck out Ita Enang’s appeal and upheld the January 19th judgement of the Court of Appeal.

Senator Enang had prayed the court to nullify the primary that produced Udofia. However, returning on the suit marked SC/CV/158/2023, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, dismissed Enang’s appeal and upheld the January 19th judgement of the Court of Appeal, which confirmed the nomination of Udofia.

Kekere-Ekun held that Udofia is a member of the APC, having duly secured the party’s waiver to contest the May 26th governorship primaries.

The Supreme Court noted that political parties have a right to grant waivers to members, saying the lower court erred in ruling otherwise.

The court thereby described Enang’s suit as a mere academic exercise, stressing that it lacked merit. The judgement lays to rest the controversies surrounding the nomination of Udofia as APC standard bearer for Saturday’s gubernatorial contest.

Enang, ex-Akwa Ibom North East Senator, served as Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta and previously SSA on National Assembly.