Akanimo Udofia is now officially recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for governor of Akwa Ibom State.
Following his victory in a contentious primary that took place ten months ago but wasn’t legally required to be overseen by INEC, Mr. Udofia is now officially recognized for the first time.
INEC stated in amendment number six published on its website on Friday that it is recognizing Mr. Udofia’s candidacy due to a court ruling.
The decision of a Federal High Court in Abuja, which directed INEC to designate Mr. Udofia’s name as the APC candidate for the governorship race in Akwa Ibom in 2023, was followed by the recognition.
Mr Udofia instituted the suit against INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu.
“That an order of mandamus is hereby made compelling the respondent to list the applicant as the governorship candidate of the APC in Akwa Ibom State in view of the extant judgments and judgment orders of the Court of Appeal,” Justice J.K. Omotosho said in his judgment.
The Supreme Court had on Tuesday struck out the same application (a cross appeal) filed by Mr Udofia, describing it as an academic exercise, having dismissed the main appeal filed by a former presidential aide, Ita Enang.
Mr Enang, a former senator from Akwa Ibom, was one of the APC governorship aspirants in the 26 May, 2022 primary election of the party in Akwa Ibom.
He was at the Supreme Court to challenge the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which held that Mr Udofia was a valid member of the APC and, therefore, eligible to have contested the APC primary in Akwa Ibom.
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