Former Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has said he would proceed to the Supreme Court to challenge the Appeal Court judgement that nullified his election as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Akwa Ibom Northwest Senatorial District.
Recall that the Federal High Court, Abuja had on September 22 ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to name the former Akwa Ibom governor as APC’s candidate after he was nominated by the party for winning the second primary held on June 9.
However, the Court of Appeal on Monday in a ruling delivered by a three-judge panel presided over by Justice Danlami Senchi, sacked Akpabio as the APC candidate for the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District over the failure to file proof of arguments within the time frame specified by the rules.
The Court asked INEC to reinstate a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Udom Ekpoudom, who won the May 27 election in the district, as APC candidate for the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District.
Reacting to the judgement in a statement, Akpabio said he would seek necessary legal action and called for calm among his supporters pending the time a final decision would be taken.
The statement read: “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 judgements 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 judgement 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.”
