Appeal Court Orders Fresh Poll In Akwa Ibom Within 90 Days

The Court of Appeal sited in Abuja has nullified the election that brought Governor Udom Emmanuel to office.

The court granted the prayers of Umana Umana, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.

Umana had called for a cancellation of the entire election, appealing the ruling by the Election Tribunal which had called for elections to be revisited in 18 Local Government councils.

Governor Udom had appealed the ruling, asking for the Appeal Court to overturnt he tribunal, however it was the prayers of his opponent that were upheld.

The 5 man panel in the Court of Appeal said it agreed with evidence and witnesses brought forward by the APC candidate.

“The question is, if there was no collation, can there be said to be an election,” the court asked.
“Indeed where there was no collation of election, there cannot be said to be an election.”
“The tribunal was wrong in failing to nullify the entire election, the court ruled, setting aside the judgement of the tribunal in the 13 LGAs.
“The entire election is hereby nullified. The election that brought Mr. Udom is hereby nullified,” it ruled.