Supreme Court upholds Gov. Godswill Akpabio's election

A few months to the conclusion of his second term as governor, the Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Governor Godswill Akpabio‎ as the authentic candidate of People Democratic Party in the 2011 election.

The apex court dismissed the appeal brought by another governorship aspirant on the PDP platform, Frank Okon Daniel who challenged the candidacy of Akpabio.


Delivering the lead judgement on Friday, Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour held that the appellant lacked the locus standi to challenge the primary election that produced Akpabio as the governorship candidate.

Justice Vivour also held that the appellant was inconsistent in his claims before the court on the ground that he claimed to have been excluded in the primary election and at the same time he claimed he was the candidate of the party.

The apex court said that in line with Section 8 (9 ) of the Electoral Act 2010, Okon could n not challenge the election since he did not participate in the primary election, and it was wrong for the appellant to have claimed in his originating summon that he was the authentic candidate knowing fully well that he did not participate in any primary election.

The claime by Okon that the primary election was marred with irregularities was dismissed ‎on the ground that he was not there.

Okon had sued Akpabio seeking to nullify his election in the January 15 party primary and April 26, 2011 general elections.‎

The appellant had urged the Abuja Federal High Court to declare him as the winner of the re-run of January 15, 2011 Akwa Ibom PDP gubernatorial primary.

Okon had argued in his submission that he was the candidate of the PDP in the election, having been screened and cleared to participate in the said election but was denied the ticket.

Credit: Tobi Soniyi/ThisDay