A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept and publish the name of the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, as the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the 2023 Akwa Ibom North/West Senatorial District election.

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a judgement, held that INEC’s refusal to accept and publish Akpabio’s name was in contradiction with the law, having received the name from the APC as its valid candidate.

Nwite, who said the electoral umpire acted illegally, ruled that the commission lacks power to have disqualified the 2nd plaintiff (Akpabio).

“I hereby declared that the defendant (INEC) publish the name of the 2nd plaintiff as the authentic candidate,” he said.

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In the suit filed before Justice Nwite, the APC and Akpabio are 1st and 2nd plaintiffs respectively while INEC is the sole defendant.

INEC had recently cautioned the APC against its choice of candidate for the Akwa Ibom North-west senatorial seat.

The commission said the name of Akpabio, submitted by the party remained invalid until the party followed due process.

Udom Ekpoudom had emerged as the party’s candidate in the primary alleged to have been supervised by INEC officials in the constituency.

However, the party submitted the name of Akpabio in his place.

INEC spokesperson, Festus Okoye, said the commission rejected the former minister because he was not the validly nominated candidate for the senatorial district.

The Star