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A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, yesterday, nullified the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries that produced Mr Akanimo Udofia as Akwa Ibom candidate of the party for 2023 general election.
Presiding Judge, Justice Agatha Okeke, in her judgement, ordered that a fresh primary be conducted within 14 days.
Okeke said the APC governorship election committee violated provisions of the Electoral Act in conducting the primary, saying there was no evidence that procedures adopted were in line with the act.
Okeke dismissed the purported waiver granted Udofia and ordered the party to conduct another primary election where authentic governorship candidate would emerge.
She said the weight of evidence before the court showed that no election was held and the nomination of Udofia was null and void.
The judge ordered that the second defendant shall, within 14 days, conduct a fresh election and also ordered that the first defendant (Udofia) be disqualified from participating in the fresh primary.
Senator Ita Enang, an aspirant in the May 26 primary, had challenged the legitimacy of the outcome by approaching the Court.
Joined in the suit were Udofia, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as the first, second and third defendants.
The plaintiff’s Counsel, Mr Nsikak Akpan, expressed satisfaction with the judgment.
