INEC Insists Akpabio’s State Constituency Election Inchoate

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has affirmed that the election in Essein Udim State Constituency of Akwa Ibom was inchoate and as such should not be a matter for an election tribunal.

INEC in a motion filed by its counsel at the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Uyo, chaired by Justice A. Akanbi averred that no person was validly returned in the election for the state constituency.

Essein Udim is the state constituency of the former governor of the state and one time Senate Minority Leader, Obong Godswill Akpabio.

INEC through its lawyer, Jerome Irogalachi, Esq furthered averred that no evidence of return was attached to the petition filed by the petitioners neither did Nse Ntuen, a former member of the House of Assembly who was the All Progressives Congress, APC candidate attach any evidence of return to the reply filed by him. 

Having failed to do so, the Commission through its lawyers argued that the tribunal was not clothed with the requisite jurisdiction to proceed with the matter, and was therefore urged to decline jurisdiction over the matter which involved an incomplete elections.

Meanwhile when newsmen contacted Ekemini Udim, lead counsel to Esse Gerald Umoh and the Peoples Democratic Party, he said that he is currently discussing with his clients on the best way forward and that once a decision is reached, he will make his views known.

Nse Ntuen is being represented by Patrick Umoh, Esq

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