Supreme court affirms Umo Eno as Akwa Ibom governor

The supreme court has affirmed Umo Eno as the duly elected governor of Akwa Ibom state.

A five-member panel of the court led by Uwani Abba-Aji, dismissed three separate appeals filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Akanimo Udofia; Young Progressives Party (YPP) and its candidate, Albert Bassey, as well as that of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and its candidate, John Udoedehe.

Lead counsel to the respective parties withdrew their separate appeals after the court hinted that the appeals lacked merit.

The candidates had levelled several allegations against Eno, one of which was that the governor forged his secondary school certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The court had queried whether the appellants called officials of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to testify on the authenticity of the certificate.

In September, the tribunal affirmed Eno’s election.

A three-member panel of judges dismissed all the appeals brought by the three other candidates.

Also, the court of appeal in Lagos, led by Festus Obande, affirmed the decision of the lower tribunal.

The appellate court declared in the unanimous judgment that all three appeals lacked merit.