Breaking News: Governor’s Resounding Win – Tribunal Upholds Akwa Ibom Election Results

The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has completed its proceedings regarding all petitions contesting the victory of Pastor Umo Eno of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18 election…CONTINUE READING

This conclusion was reached with the recent dismissal of the petition filed by the Young Progressives Party (YPP).

Previously, petitions challenging Governor Eno’s election were brought before the tribunal by the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator John Akpan Udoedehe, Ezekiel Nya-Etok of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Obong Akanimo Udofia of the All Progressives Congress (APC). However, all of these petitions were dismissed for lacking merit.

In the case with suit number EPT/AKW/GOV/01/2023 brought by Senator Bassey Akpan of the YPP, aiming to invalidate the election results, the tribunal upheld preliminary objections related to jurisdiction and the qualifications of the second respondent. Consequently, it affirmed Governor Eno as the rightful winner of the election.

The tribunal ruled that Governor Eno was fully qualified, and the previous Supreme Court judgment in a case against him, filed by Mr. Akan Ekpe Okon, regarding alleged forgery of two ordinary-level certificates, was binding and applicable worldwide, including to the petitioners.

Justice Adeleye, delivering the judgment, expressed disapproval of the petitioners for abusing the judicial process by resurrecting a matter that had already been settled by the apex court.

As a result, Senator Akpan’s petition was dismissed as “frivolous and groundless,” and Pastor Eno’s election as the duly elected governor of Akwa Ibom State was affirmed.