The supreme court affirmed Godswill Akpabio's as the candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Akwa Ibom north west senatorial district.

Akpabio was in the race for APC's presidential ticket but dropped his bid for another candidate.

Udom Ekpoudom (ex-deputy inspector-general police, DIG) won the APC primary in Akwa Ibom's north-west senatorial District before the APC presidential primary.

Ekperikpe Ekpo won a parallel primary, which was later canceled due to irregularities.

In the meantime, Akpabio was reportedly declared the winner in a rerun that took place on June 8.

The APC was not included in the June list of candidates that INEC published. INEC spokesperson Festus Okoye stated that the commission does not have to publish names of candidates submitted from political parties in the event of doubts about the validity of primaries featuring such people.

Consequently, the APC and Akpabio approached the court in an effort to seek redress.

Delivering judgment in September 2022, Emeka Nwite, the trial judge, held that INEC contravened the law when it refused to accept and publish Akpabio's name, despite the fact that the APC had listed him as its candidate.

Ekpoudom was dissatisfied with the decision of the trial court and went to the court of appeal. In a November 14 judgment, the court of appeal quashed the trial court's decision and fired Akpabio from the position as the candidate of the party.

A five-member supreme court panel ruled in Akpabio’s appeal on Friday, January 20, and thereby stripped the trial court and appellate court of the jurisdiction to hear the suit.

Akpabio's 10-ground appeal was granted.

Bn