A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) to recognise the former Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio, as a Senatorial candidate under All Progressives Congress in 2023 election.
The court ordered INEC to accept and publish Akpabio’s name as APC senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North/West senatorial district in 2023 election.
While delivering a judgment on Thursday, Justice Emeka Nwite held that INEC acted illegally by refusing to accept and publish Akpabio’s name after it was sent by APC.
Lawan and Akpabio had contested the APC Presidential primaries but loss to Senator Ahmed Tinubu
The national body of the party had sent the names of the duo as senatorial candidates to INEC but the commission refused to recognise them on the ground that they cannot partake in 2 primary elections at a time.
