Akwa Ibom Guber: Utuk Withdraws Case at Supreme Court, Backs Udofia

A former governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State, Prince Augustine Utuk, has announced his decision to withdraw his pending case at the Supreme Court and endorse the candidacy of Obong Akan Udofia, the candidate of the party in the governorship election.

He made the declaration before a gathering of party supporters at his residence in Uyo.

Utuk had contested the May 26 APC governorship primaries in Akwa Ibom wherein renowned businessman and philanthropist, Udofia, emerged winner. 

Subsequently, Utuk and Udofia had been enmeshed in a long drawn legal battle leading up to the Supreme Court. 

Utuk had filed an appeal at the Supreme Court to challenge the judgment of the Court of Appeal which affirmed Udofia as the rightful and duly nominated governorship candidate of APC in the state. 

However, in a motion dated February 14,  Utuk formally applied for discontinuance of his appeal case against Udofia at the Supreme Court in the suit marked SC/CV/158/2023. 

He said his decision to withdraw the action was borne out of his commitment to the progress and success of the party in the state.

In his speech, Udofia thanked Utuk for his decision to withdraw and endorse him. 

He said that his decision did not come as a surprise to him because they are of the same breed and pedigree and that each of them was as good as the other.

Udofia assured Utuk of his resolve to work together with him and other members of the party to secure victory that will ultimately guarantee shared prosperity and sustainable development for the good people of Akwa Ibom State.

In his remarks, the Director General of the APC Governorship Campaign Council, Mr. Don Etim, said that the campaign council was open to giving everyone a sense of belonging and assured everyone that no one will be left behind in the journey to a prosperous Akwa Ibom State.