The Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, has ordered that a fresh governorship primary election be conducted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) within two weeks.
While delivering judgement on Monday, November 14, 2022, the presiding judge, Justice Agatha Okeke, also disqualified the governorship candidate of the party, Akanimo Udofia, from participating in the primary, saying that he was not a member of the APC in the state.
“No APC governorship primary election was held in Akwa Ibom. Therefore, the nomination of the first defendant (Udofia) as the governorship candidate did not comply with the Electoral Act of 2022,” the judge said.
The court also requested the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise him, Udofia nor accept him as candidate according to section 77 sub-section 3 of the Electoral Act.