A’Ibom APC Senatorial Ticket: Ekpoudum to Appeal Judgement Favouring Akpabio

Okon Bassey in Uyo

Asenatorial aspirant for the Akwa Ibom North West (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial district, Udom Ekpoudum who reportedly won the senatorial seat of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has indicated intention to appeal the two judgments which declared Senator Godswill Akpabio as the authentic candidate for the senatorial election on the ticket of APC.
A statement issued yesterday by the Director-General of Ekpoudum Campaign Organisation, Hon. Uwem Udoma said all constitutional means would be explored to retrieve the mandate which had earlier been given to Ekpoudom, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police by his people during the primary.
The statement was titled, “Judgement on Akwa Ibom North West APC Senatorial ticket: Our Position.”
It explained: “Team Ekpoudom is aware of the two judgements of the Federal High Court Abuja, one mandating INEC to include the name of Senator Godswill Akpabio as the APC candidate for the February 25, 2023 Senatorial election, and the second dismissing the suit filed by Rtd DIG Udom Ekpoudom.
“In accordance with the law, we have instructed our legal team to promptly Appeal both Justice Emeka Nwite’s judgement (FHC/ABJ/CS/1011/2022) of September 15, 2022, and Justice Donatus Okorowo’s judgement (FHC/ABJ/CS/1000/2022) of September 23, 2022.
“Consequently, we hereby urge all members of the Campaign Organisation and APC supporters in the Senatorial District to remain calm and resolute as notwithstanding this temporal setback.
“We shall explore all legal and constitutional means to ensure that the mandate entrusted to DIG Udom Ekpoudom retd., is legally protected.
“We want to assure our teaming supporters that we are determined to legally challenge Senator Akpabio up to the final level not minding his boastful rantings against the people of Abak federal constituency.”
It added: “Most importantly, we hereby assure our teeming APC supporters and indeed the good people of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, that come 2023, Abak Federal Constituency will definitely produce the next Senator.”
Former DIG had earlier been declared winner of the party’s primary conducted on May 28, 2022, by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) in the State.
But, a re-run primary conducted on June 9, 2022, at the Godswill Akpabio Empowerment Centre, Ikot Ekpene, had declared Akpabio as the candidate for the senatorial seat.
However, the Federal High Court presided by Justice Emeka Nwite, in Abuja, on September 15, 2022 dismissed the lawsuit against INEC and APC for lacking in merit. This was followed by a similar one presided by Donatus Okorowo’s judgement of September 23, 2022.
The courts held that the primaries which produced Ekpoudom and on which he relied on to actualise his senatorial ambition was not valid.
The APC had maintained that the immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs was its candidate for the Senatorial District which had been affirmed by the court judgment.