Tension Erupts as Court Sacks PDP Governorship Candidate, Gives Reason
- Justice Fadima Aminu of the federal high court sitting in Abuja has sacked Umo Eno, the PDP governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom state
- The court subsequently declared Michael Enyong the authentic candidate of the PDP for the March 11, 2023 governorship election
- Enyong argued before the court that he was the winner of the PDP primary with 2,448 of the total 2,776 votes but the party did not submit his name to INEC
FCT, Abuja - An Abuja federal high court has disqualified Umo Eno as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom state in the 2023 election.
Justice Fadima Aminu, in a judgement delivered on January 20, asked the PDP to submit the name of Michael Enyong to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its authentic candidate, The Cable reported.
Source: Twitter
Why court sacked PDP governorship candidate in Imo
The suit which was marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1295/2022, was instituted in August 2022 by Enyong where he argued that he won the PDP primary conducted on May 25, 2022.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app!
Enyong referred the court to Justice Obiora Egwuatu's order on May 18 in file number FHC/ABJ/CS/606/2022. The order stopped the PDP from making use of its list of ad-hoc delegates to conduct the governorship primary election in the state until the substantive suit is determined.
He stated that he was the winner of the indirect primary election where he garnered 2,448 of the total 2,776 votes.
Latest about PDP, Umo Eno, Akwa Ibom, 2023 election, Southeast
But the PDP refused to submit his name to INEC as the flagbearer of the party for the March 11 governorship election, adding that this was why he sought legal redress.
INEC on its part took a neutral stance on the matter, the PDP, which is the second defendant, never appeared before the court despite evidence that the party was served with the originating summons and all other processes.
While delivering his ruling, the judge said the plaintiff has been able to defend his argument beyond a reasonable doubt.
Magistrate receives query for issuing warrant of arrest for PDP governorship candidate
Legit.ng earlier reported that a chief magistrate, Emmanuel Iyanna, has been queried by the chief judge of the Abuja federal high court.
The chief magistrate was queried over the warrant of arrest he issued on Umo Eno, the PDP governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom state.
The PDP candidate has sent a petition through his legal team headed by Samuel Ikpo against Iyanna, claiming that the warrant was irregular and illegal.
Source: Legit.ng
