Appeal court upholds Akpabio’s victory

The court of appeal has upheld the election of Godswill Akpabio as senator representing the northwest senatorial district of Akwa Ibom state.

A three-man panel of judges struck out the appeal of Mathew Okorie, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), challenging the judgment of the election petition tribunal upholding Akpabio’s election.

Delivering the lead judgment to which other two judges concurred, Moshood Oredola, held that Okorie (the appellant) failed to prove his case against Akpabio.

The APC candidate had asked the court to set aside the judgment of the tribunal because it was in error.

He contended that the election in which Akpabio emerged winner was marred by irregularities and corruption, and that the former governor was not duly elected.

He further argued that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not duly nominate Akpabio to contest the March 28 senatorial election in the northwest district of Akwa Ibom state.

Also, he posited that the PDP nominated Akpabio to the contest the election in the northeast and not northwest senatorial district of the state.

Okorie therefore asked the court reverse the judgment of the tribunal.

However, the appellate court observed that PDP had tendered evidence that it nominated Akpabio for Akwa Ibom northeast senatorial district during its national assembly primary election for the state in error.

It countenanced the argument of the PDP that it was a mere “mistake, and held that the party duly nominated Akpabio after a proper primary election.

“The appellant failed to prove his case. This appeal lacks merit and it is hereby dismissed,” the court ruled.