By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Accept
Okay.ngOkay.ngOkay.ng
Font ResizerAa
  • News
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Reading: Tribunal Affirms Election of Akwa Ibom Governor, Umo Eno
Share
Font ResizerAa
Okay.ngOkay.ng
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Search
  • News
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Follow US
  • About Okay.ng
  • Advertising on Okay.ng
  • Contact Okay.ng
  • Careers
  • Meet the Team behind Okay.ng
  • Ownership and Funding of Okay.ng
  • Editorial Principles at Okay.ng
© OKN MEDIA PUBLISHING 2022 - All rights reserved
News

Tribunal Affirms Election of Akwa Ibom Governor, Umo Eno

Adamu Abubakar
By Adamu Abubakar
Published: September 28, 2023
Share
4 Min Read
Umo Eno
Umo Eno
SHARE

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Uyo on Thursday dismissed the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Mr. Akanimo Udofia, challenging the election of Pastor Umo Eno of the Peoples Democratic Party as winner of the March 18, 2023, elections.

Udofia approached the tribunal seeking for disqualification of Pastor Umo Eno on grounds he presented forged documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission, and also did not score the highest number of valid votes in the March 18, 2023 Governorship elections.

The APC candidate also accused the 2nd respondent (Umo Eno) of being convicted by an Abuja Magistrate Court, and therefore not qualified to be fielded for elections.

But delivering judgement on Thursday, the Justice Adekunle Adeleye-led tribunal, in its unanimous decision, held that the allegations of substantial noncompliance with the electoral law in the conduct of the elections was not sufficiently proven by the petitioner.

- Advertisement -

The tribunal also held that the magistrate court in its judgment, nullified its earlier conviction of Pastor Umo Eno adding that “once a judgement is nullified, it ceases to exist.” and therefore disagreed with the petitioner on the legality of the setting aside of judgement by the same magistrate.

“It is not the duty of the tribunal to determine if the decision of the magistrate court to upturn its own judgment was justified. That falls under the jurisdiction of the Abuja High Court.” The Tribunal added.

On the issue of the qualifications of the 2nd respondent, the tribunal held that the Supreme Court had already determined that Eno was the authentic owner of the WAEC certificates he submitted to INEC.

On the petitioners’ allegation that the PDP made used of public office holders such as one Uwem Ekanem as collation agent in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, the tribunal ruled that Uwem Ekanem’s membership of the board of Ibom Power Company, cannot be classified as a political office and that a party agent’s membership of a company’s board was not sufficient reasons for a candidate to be disqualified.

- Advertisement -

Akanimo Udofia’s petition, according to the tribunal, lacked merits as the petitioner was not able to establish one polling unit in which there was non compliance with the electoral law in the March 18 Governorship elections.

The tribunal also dismissed the ground of the petition by Udofia, challenging the eligibility of Senator Bassey Albert, who came second in the election.

The tribunal insisted that at the time of the elections, there was a subsisting appeal by the convicted YPP candidate and this made him eligible to contest in the elections.

The tribunal similarly dismissed the claims by APC that Senator Albert was not qualified to be fielded by YPP having already vied for same office in the PDP.

It ruled that the petitioner not being a member of the YPP, had no basis to challenge who the party fielded and how he emerged as their candidate.

The tribunal dismissed the petitions by governorship candidates of the NNPP, Senator John James Akpan Udoedehe, and ANC, Ezekiel Nyaetok, as lacking in merit.

Stay Updated on the Go with Our Latest News—Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!
TAGGED:Akwa IbomUmo Eno
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Telegram Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article NiMet Issues Warning of Heavy Rainfall, Flash Floods in FCT, 24 States
Next Article EFCC Warns Nigerians of Increasing Circulation of Fake Dollars

Connect with Okay on Social

FacebookLike
XFollow
InstagramFollow
TelegramFollow

Dollar/Naira Rates

Dollar to Naira Exchange Rate

Okay.ng Logo
Buy Rate ₦1,605.00
Sell Rate ₦1,620.00

Last updated: 4 days ago (June 3, 2025 2:33 pm)

Displayed rates are for informational purposes only and are subject to change.

USD/NGN Converter

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

Recent Posts

Super Eagles Rally to Draw Against Russia in International Friendly
Sport
Manchester United Raises Annual Core Profit Forecast to Between £180m and £190m After Europa League Boost
Sport
Ange Postecoglou
Tottenham Hotspur Part Ways with Ange Postecoglou Despite Europa League Glory
Sport
Dangote Names Main Refinery Access Road “Bola Ahmed Tinubu Road” in Honor of President
News
L-R: Ify Okoye, Digital Creator; Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Actress; Stella Erebor, Head Internal Audit, Nigerian Communications Commission; Emanuella Samuel, Comedienne/Actress, Sylvia Musalagani, Safety Policy Manager, Africa, Middle East & Turkey (AMET), Meta, and Nicole Chikwe, founder of The Mummy Summit, during the launch of Instagram teen accounts in Lagos on Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Meta Launches Teen Accounts on Instagram in Nigeria to Enhance Online Safety for Young Users
Tech
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

You May Also Like

News

President Tinubu and Top Officials Attend Eid-el-Kabir Prayers in Lagos, Emphasize Peace and Progress

Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
June 6, 2025
International

Elon Musk’s Net Worth Plummets $34 Billion Amid Explosive Feud with Donald Trump

Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
June 6, 2025
PoliticsTop stories

BREAKING: Akwa Ibom Governor Pastor Umo Eno Defects from PDP to APC in Strategic Political Shift

Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
June 6, 2025
Okay.ngOkay.ng
Follow US
© OKN MEDIA PUBLISHING 2025 - All rights reserved
  • About Okay.ng
  • Advertising on Okay.ng
  • Contact Okay.ng
  • Careers
  • Meet the Team behind Okay.ng
  • Ownership and Funding of Okay.ng
  • Editorial Principles at Okay.ng
adbanner
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?