The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has granted leave to Senator Godswill Akpabio as an interested party to appeal the judgement of the Court in the Supreme Court.
The court had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to delete his name as the duly elected candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District and replace with Udom Ekpoudom, the retired Deputy Inspector General of Police.
The judgement is contained in a press release signed by Akpabio Chief Press Secretary, Jackson Udom.
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Recall that the Court on Monday, November 14 in the appeal brought by Ekpoudom against the APC and INEC had held that Ekpoudom was the APC candidate for Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District in the 2023 general elections.
Akpabio’s Counsels Umeh Kalu, SAN and Berth Igwilo, SAN had applied for Leave allow Akpabio to be joined in the Appeal because he was not a party in the proceedings, to enable him approach the Supreme Court for reprieve.
Ruling on the Motion for Leave after hearing Umeh Kalu, SAN, Berth Igwilo, SAN, the three-man Panel of the Justices of the Court of Appeal, led by Hon. Justice U.A.Ogakwu, unanimously granted Akpabio’s prayers and held that it was satisfied that the Applicant had deposed to cogent issues in his affidavit and further affidavits to warrant the grant of Leave to appeal the judgement of the Court of Appeal.
The Court further held that since Senator Akpabio’s name had earlier been forwarded to INEC as the APC candidate, it was imperative to allow him appeal the judgement of the Court delivered in his absence.
Commenting on the ruling, Umeh Kalu, SAN commended the Justices for their sound reasoning in the judgement, saying “You cannot shave a person’s head in his absence.”
By this ruling, Akpabio is expected to approach the Supreme Court before the end of the week.
