PDP in Akwa Ibom Sue Bola Tinubu, Senate Over REC Appointment

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The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State, Aniekan Akpan, and the Secretary, Harrison Ekpo, have filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja against President Bola Tinubu and the Senate regarding the appointment of Etekamba Umoren as the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the state.

In their originating summons filed on Tuesday, the plaintiffs are seeking the court’s declaration that Umoren is not qualified to be appointed as REC since he is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). They attached colored photographs of Umoren wearing APC campaign gear while campaigning for Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The plaintiffs argue that the Constitution’s provisions must be strictly followed in determining how the President carries out his function under Section 154(3) and who qualifies to be appointed as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) REC for Akwa Ibom and every state in Nigeria. They assert that unconstitutional appointments of partisan officers into INEC contribute to election rigging, which is detrimental to democracy in Nigeria.

The plaintiffs also seek the court’s declaration that Tinubu failed to consult with the Council of State before making Umoren’s appointment on October 25, 2023. They further request the court to declare the appointment of Umoren illegal, null, and void, and they seek an injunction to prevent Tinubu from presenting Umoren to the Senate for confirmation as REC.

Additionally, the plaintiffs request an injunction to prevent the Senate from confirming Umoren as REC and an injunction to prevent Umoren from acting or assuming the office or parading himself as REC for Akwa Ibom.

The lawsuit highlights the contentious issue of REC appointments and the importance of non-partisanship in the electoral commission.


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