Court upholds Akpabio's candidacy

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25 Feb 2011

Court upholds Akpabio's candidacy

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ruled that Godswill Akpabio, governor of Akwa Ibom state is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the April general election.

Presiding Judge, Abdu Kafarati, delivering judgement in the suit filed by a PDP aspirant, Frank Okon praying the court for an order to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising Mr Akpabio as the party's candidate, said the evidence brought by the plaintiff to argue his case were mere assertions.

Mr Kafarati subsequently struck out the suit for lacking in merit and ordered that Mr. Akpabio be recognised by the electoral body as the authentic governorship candidate of PDP in Akwa Ibom state in the April polls. "The suit was more of an academic exercise, but since the court has been approached, the door will not be shut against the plaintiff but rather the court will look at the merit of his case and having looked at the merit, it is of my view that the suit lacks merit, on this ground I strike out the case".