Court Gives Final Verdict on Akpabio's Senatorial Candidacy

• The senatorial candidacy of Godswill Akpabio, a former Akwa Ibom governor, was given legal backing on Thursday, September 15
• This is as the Federal High Court has ordered INEC to enlist Akpabio as the APC's senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North/West senatorial district
• According to the court, it was illegal for the commission not to have recognise the former Akwa Ibom governor as the party's candidate

Abuja - A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, September 15, gave a judgment on the candidacy of Godswill Akpabio ahead of the 2023 general election.

During a court proceeding in Abuja, the court ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should recognise Akpabio as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Akwa Ibom North/West senatorial district in 2023, The Nation reports.

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Justice Emeka Nwite noted that INEC's refusal to accept and publish Akpabio’s name on its list is illegal.

2023: INEC finally recognised Lawan, Akpabio as APC senatorial candidates? Electoral body reacts

Recall that INEC had denied reports claiming that it had finally recognised Senate President Ahmad Lawan, and Akpabio as APC senatorial candidates.

Festus Okoye, national commissioner and chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, made this known on Tuesday, August 9, in Abuja.

Okoye said the attention of the commission was drawn to an online report alleging that it doctored, backdated and certified documents to accommodate Lawan and Akpabio as senatorial candidates of the ruling party.

He said:

“Nothing can be further from the truth. As evidence of the alleged role played by the commission. A certified true copy of Form 9C uploaded by their political party and received by the Commission on 17th June 2022 when the nomination portal closed was presented."

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2023: Akpabio's senatorial candidacy suffers major setback as INEC issues fresh, powerful statement

INEC makes clarification Okoye said that for clarity, the Form EC9 (submission of names of candidates by political parties) is the form uploaded by parties on the INEC nomination portal, and is clearly indicated on the title of the Form which was received on 17th June 2022 when the portal closed.

Akpabio: INEC's REC Igini says it's punishable offence to obtain multiple nomination forms

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Akwa Ibom state’s resident electoral commissioner, Mike Igini, said it is a punishable offence under the electoral act 2022 for politicians to obtain multiple nomination forms.

Source: Legit.ng