Court rejects complaint against Akpabio's appointment

Please share this story:

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday dismissed the lawsuit filed by Udom Ekpoudom challenging the failure of the Congress of All Progressives to put his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission as the party's candidate for the North Akwa Ibom West Senatorial District for the 2023 General Elections.

Rendering his judgment, Judge Donatus Okorowo held that the plaintiff's action was not justiciable, therefore, the prosecution lacked jurisdiction.

Judge Okorowo, who said the case touched on internal party affairs, ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the action.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that Ekpoudom, a retired DIG, was the plaintiff in the case.

He had sued the APC and former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio as the 1st and 2nd defendants in the suit.

The lawsuit follows Akpabio's emergence as the party's candidate in the APC primary re-run held on June 8.

Although the INEC recognized Ekpoudom as the APC's candidate for the senatorial constituency for the 2023 elections, the APC submitted Akpabio's name as the candidate.

The APC insisted on Akpabio as its candidate, a situation that prompted Ekpoudom to challenge the party in court.

Ekpoudom, in the application, stated that he had duly participated in the primary election for the APC Senate district of Akwa Ibom North West held on May 27 and monitored by the INEC in accordance with the 2023 election calendar and APC guidelines.

He asked the court to recognize him as the party's duly elected candidate.

NAN reports that Akpabio's name appeared on the final list of candidates for the National Assembly for 2023 published by the electoral arbiter.