Court to hear Akpabio’s suit against Ekpenyong Mar 8

An FCT High Court will on March 8 hear the arguments on its jurisdiction to entertain a suit by Senator Godswill Akpabio challenging the election of Chris Ekpenyong for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District.

The court presided by Justice Valentine Ashi had last week stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from issuing Certificate of Return to Ekpenyong.

Justice Ashi had also ordered INEC to stay further action in respect of the February 23 senatorial election in the state pending the determination of its jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

“Additionally, I direct that parties should address me on jurisdiction on the next adjourned date,“Justice Ashi said.

The ex parte application was brought by Senator Godswill Akpabio of the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the results of the election, which produced Ekpenyong of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In the suit marked: FCT/ HC/2680/19, Akpabio, through his counsel, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), is seeking for “judicial review for the issuance of writ of Mandamus, prohibition, injunction and other declaratory reliefs against INEC.”

The court in granting the order, said there was “some merit especially in regards to the need to keep things in status quo.”