Akpabio bypasses tribunal, gets court order against INEC, Ekpeyong

March 2, 2019
229 Views

An Abuja High Court has ordered INEC to not issue a certificate of return to the PDP senatorial candidate Chros Ekpenyong declared winner of the Feb 23 election Akwa Ibom North West.

APC candidate Sen. Godswill Akpabio had petitioned the INEC with an allegation the state’s Resident Electoral Commission Mike Igini was considering reversing the result form Obo Akara—before the election result was announced.

Ekpeyong is from Obot Akara.

According to the result announced by the returning officer, Prof. Peter Oban, Akpabio scored 83,158 votes, while Mr Ekpenyong scored 118,215 votes.

“It is the law that a pronouncement on a result has been made, only a court of law can reverse such decision. An attempt to reverse same is total illegality,” Mr Akpabio said in the petition, dated February 23, and signed by his brother, Ibanga Akpabio, who was the APC senatorial agent in the election.

Wile the election tribunal the Sipreme Court inaugurated before the election is there, the Abuja court on Friday gave the ex parte order restraining INEC from issuing a certificate of return to Mr Ekpenyong, following an application brought before it by Mr Akpabio.

INEC is the respondent in the matter.

“Leave is hereby granted to the applicant to apply for judicial review of the issuance of a writ of mandamus, prohibition, injunction, and other declaratory reliefs against the respondent

“Leave so granted shall operate as stay of further action by the respondent and particularly further action in respect of issuance of certificate of return to any candidate in respect of the seat of the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District on the account of the election held on the 23 February, 2019,” Justice Valentine Ashi ruled.

“Additionally, I direct that parties shall first address me on jurisdiction on the next adjourned date.”

Hearing of the substantive application comes up March 8.

You may be interested

Europa League: Osimhen’s Galatasaray Suffer Big Defeat At AZ Alkmaar
Sports
1 views
Sports
1 views

Europa League: Osimhen’s Galatasaray Suffer Big Defeat At AZ Alkmaar

Webby - February 13, 2025

Victor Osimhen’s Galatasaray suffered a 4-1 defeat away to AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of the Europa League playoffs…

Nottingham Forest Must Be Careful With ‘Injured’ Awoniyi — Santo
Sports
2 views
Sports
2 views

Nottingham Forest Must Be Careful With ‘Injured’ Awoniyi — Santo

Webby - February 13, 2025

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo has revealed the extent of Taiwo Awoniyi’s injury and said it is important for…

Ajayi Returns After Injury-Induced Layoff As West Brom Suffer Home Defeat
Sports
2 views
Sports
2 views

Ajayi Returns After Injury-Induced Layoff As West Brom Suffer Home Defeat

Webby - February 13, 2025

Semi Ajayi was an unused substitute for West Brom in their 2-0 home defeat to Blackburn Rovers in the Championship…

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.