By Aminu Kutama
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept and publish the name of Godswill Akpabio as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Akwa Ibom Northwest senatorial district election in 2023.
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a judgment on Thursday, held that INEC acted illegally for refusing to accept and publish Akpabio’s name even when it was sent to it by the APC as its candidate.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Godswill Akpabio, former minister of Niger Delta affairs, and Dave Umahi, governor of Ebonyi, had been the APC as candidates for Yobe north, Akwa Ibom north-west, and Ebonyi south senatorial districts, respectively.
However, in the list published by INEC, Lawan, Umahi and Akpabio were said to have been excluded.