The APC in Akwa Ibom State is yet to have a governorship candidate.
The fate of Akan Udofia of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State, who is battling for recognition as the governorship candidate of the party will be decided by the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
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The governorship election is on Saturday, 11 March.
The Supreme Court had, on 27 February, set aside 7 March to rule on the appeal filed by a former presidential aide, Ita Enang seeking the nullification of the election of Mr Akan as the governorship candidate of the party in the state.
Mr Enang, a former senator had prayed the court to declare him as the authentic governorship candidate of the party on the basis that Mr Udofia was not an APC member as at 26 May 2022 when the party conducted the governorship primary.
His application originated from the decision of a Federal High Court in Uyo which had on 14 November 2022 nullified the election of Mr Udofia as the APC governorship candidate for the state.
The judge, Agatha Okeke, had ordered the APC to conduct a fresh primary within 14 days but barred Mr Udofia from participating in the new election.
Dissatisfied with the judgment Mr Udofia lodged an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja. The appellate court on 19 January set aside the judgment of the lower court and restored him as the APC candidate.
The appellate court held that the Federal High Court in Uyo wrongly assumed jurisdiction to entertain the matter contrary to Sections 97 and 98 of the Sheriffs Act, a decision that Mr Enang who instituted the matter was pleased with and therefore appealed to the Supreme Court.
The Appeal Court in its judgment on the matter failed to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and publish Mr Udofia’s name as the APC governorship candidate for the governorship election in the state.
Less than a week to the election, the Commission had not yet recognised Mr Udofia as the governorship candidate of the APC in the state.
