Supreme Court restores Akpabio as APC senatorial candidate

The Supreme Court on Friday restored former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, as the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Akwa Ibom North Senatorial District.

In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, the apex court upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja which in September last year granted verdict in favour of the immediate past minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

Saulawa after reviewing the arguments canvassed by Akpabio said that his appeal was meritorious and therefore was allowed.

The judgement was on an appeal filed by Akpabio challenging the judgement of the Court of Appeal Abuja, which set aside his victory at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Arriving at the decision, the Supreme Court in a unanimous judgement said each of the 10 issues formulated by the appellant was resolved in his favour, and against the respondent.

It held that the court below lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case, adding that whatever decision arrived at by the court amounted to nullity.

It would be recalled that the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal had on November 14, 2022, set aside the judgment of Federal High Court Abuja, removing Akpabio as the All Progressives Congress candidate for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District.

A three-member panel of justices led by Justice Danlami Senchi held that Akpabio failed to file a proof of arguments within the time provided by the rules.

The panel further ruled that Akpabio, having contested the presidential primary of the APC, could not participate in the valid primary of the party held on May 27 and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission  which produced Udom Ekpoudom as a candidate.

But Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court Abuja, had on September 22, 2022, ordered  INEC to reinstate Akpabio as APC’s candidate, being the candidate nominated by the party in the second primary of June 9.

The trial court had directed INEC to accept the former minister of Niger Delta as the APC flag bearer.

Nwite also ordered INEC to publish Akpabio’s name as APC senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North/West Senatorial District in 2023, stating that the commission acted illegally by refusing to accept and publish the former governor’s name when it was submitted to it by the APC as its candidate.

He added that Akpabio was validly nominated as the Akwa Ibom North/West Senatorial District candidate of the APC from the primary conducted by the party’s National Working Committee on June 9, 2022.

The trial judge faulted INEC for electing to monitor the May 27 primary, conducted by an illegal faction of the party led by Augustine Ekanem as against the June 9, primary authorised and conducted by the APC NWC.

The Katsina emirate council has confirmed the dismissal of a top district head, the Makaman Katsina, the district head of Bakori, Idris Sule Idris, for allegedly aiding and abating terrorism in his domain.

The dismissal was contained in a letter dated 19, January, 2023, signed by Kauran Katsina, district head of Rimi, Aminu Nuhu Abdulkadir, who is a king maker and a senior council member of the emirate.

The letter said Makama was dismissed after a state government committee had found him guilty of charges leveled against him by his people.

“Following a letter the emirate council received from the office of the Secretary Government of the State with reference number SEC/54/Vol. VI/1416, in which the executive governor confirmed that the allegations against you are true.

“The issues raised against you have led to disruption of peace in your area. The emirate council therefore wishes to inform you that you’ve been relieved of your duties as Makaman Katsina, district head of Bakori,” the letter read in part.

When contacted, the emirate spokesperson, Ibrahim Bindawa confirmed the sack, saying “Yes, it is true.”

This is not the first time traditional rulers with alleged links to terrorists would be fired.

In 2021, Katsina emirate council dismissed Sarkin Pawwan Katsina, the district head of Kankara, Yusuf Lawal for alleged support to terrorists.

(Daily Trust)