Appeal Court confirms Godswill Akpabio winner, ordered fresh election in Akwa Ibom North
The Court of Appeal sitting in Calabar, Cross River State has ruled in favour of Sen. Godswill Akpabio, nullifying the election of Dr. Chris Ekpenyong who was wrongly declared winner of the February 23, 2019 National Assembly election in Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District.
Akpabio, not satisfied with the judgment earlier ruled against him by the Justice Akanbi-led Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Calabar.
Chris Ekpenyong of the Peoples Democratic Party was initially declared winner of the election by INEC, but Mr Akpabio challenged the decision at the election’s tribunal.
The court in its ruling has ordered a rerun in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State where Senator Godswill Akpabio lost to Senator Christopher Ekpenyong in the February 23, 2019 senatorial election in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been ordered to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Dr. Chris Ekpenyong and conduct fresh elections in the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District within ninety days.
The former governor was first elected senator from the district in 2015 when he concluded his two terms as governor.
He was appointed into President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet in July, serving currently as the Niger-Delta minister.
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