Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Appeal Court Dismisses Case Against Akpabio

PRESS RELEASE

Appeal Court Dismisses Case Against Akpabio

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, October 04, 2011, dismissed a suit filed by an aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Engr. Frank Okon Daniel seeking to upturn the election of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio.

In Appeal No:CA/A/205/2011, Engr. Okon had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Godswill Akpabio calling for the cancellation of the Akwa Ibom State governorship primaries of January 9, on the ground that he was excluded as a governorship aspirant.

But the legal team of Governor Akpabio led by Paul Usoro SAN, had insisted that the re-run primaries was duly concluded on January 15, 2011 with Engr. Okon on the ballot and was shown live on television network across the country.

According to the counsel to Governor Akpabio, the suit was totally academic in nature, purposeless and undeserving of the Court’s judicial time given the fact that Engr. Okon’s complaint was against the January 09, 2011 governorship primaries the results of which were cancelled by the PDP.

But counsel to Engr. Okon had submitted that the complaint of being unlawfully excluded by the PDP in the gubernatorial election of January 9, to select a candidate,  had not in any way been addressed by the cancellation of the first primary and the conduct of the January 15 re-run election.

When the matter came up for hearing at the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday, October 04, counsel to Frank Okon led by L. Sanusi (SAN) had applied to the court to withdraw their appeal after issues had been joined and the parties had exchanged process documents.

The Court had accordingly dismissed the Appeal and awarded a cost of N40,000.00 in favour Governor Akpabio.  According to legal pundits the implication of the matter being dismissed was that with the judgement, the case was completely closed.

It would be recalled that Governor Akpabio has enjoyed series of judicial victory in recent times.  The Court of Appeal in Calabar had in a fortnight in a unanimous decision ruled against the appeal filed by Akwa Ibom State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate and his running mate, Senator John Akpanudoedehe and Ime Umanah.

The Court of Appeal had in like manner dismissed the Appeal filed by the candidate of the Progressive Action Congress (PAC) Mr. Steve Ibanga who had alleged that he was excluded by INEC and prevented from contesting the April governorship election with the non-conclusion of the logo of his party.


Anietie Ekong
Special Assistant (Media)
To Governor Godswill Akpabio

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