Israel Umoh
The fate of Obong Akanimo Udofia to participate in the governorship race of Akwa Ibom State under All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 general elections lies on a favourable ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Straightnews has gathered.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had published final list of governorship and State Assemblies’ candidates in the country on October 4, yet Udofia’s name was conspicuously missing in the list.
Initially, Udofia, the businessman and philanthropist, said to have won the Akwa Ibom APC governorship primary of the APC was swimming against the raging tide of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and some aggrieved, but factional APC leaders.
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After the primary, Omoba Tunde Ajibulu, Chairman of the APC Election Committee, announced that Udofia polled 1,227 votes to defeat such prominent politicians as Senator Ita Enang who had 34 votes and Senator John Akpanudoedehe who polled two votes.
Yet, the victory did not last long when the outgone Akwa Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, sent a report to the INEC headquarters in Abuja complaining against the conduct of the primary.
By then, Obong Stephen Ntukekpo-led APC superintended over the governorship primary said to have been held at 6, Ekpo Obot Street, Uyo, yet INEC in the state rather accorded recognition to Austin Ekanem’s faction, explaining that Federal High Court, Abuja had ruled that the status should be maintained.
Igini, in the letter dated May 27, 2022, said: “We wish to report that the APC governorship primary scheduled to hold on Thursday, May 26, 2022, at the Sheergrace Arena, Nsikak Eduok Avenue, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State did not hold at all.”
The report stated that the commission’s monitoring team, led by Mr Igini, in the company of the out-gone Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Andrew Amiengheme, arrived at the venue of the primary for the third time at 6:45 p.m., without seeing anyone.
The operatives of the State Security Services (SSS) later rescued the APC election officials that night and took them to their (SSS) facility in the city.
The state INEC monitoring team, according to Igini, comprised Emmanuel E. Ogbodu Esq. (Administrative Secretary), Henry Mbonu (HOD EPM), Mark Chukwu Esq. (HOD Legal) and Aisien Odaro (HOD VEP).
Others were Vincent Oghene (HOD EOPS), Arit Eschor (HOD GAP), Aniedi Usungedo (EPM Dept.), and Uwem Ntia (EPM Dept.).
But, the report by the INEC election monitoring team is the sword to break the carmel’s back.
The national body of the party had sworn in Ntukekpo as the Akwa Ibom APC Chapter Chairman.
Despite the stand of INEC then, Ntukekpo rejected its report, stating that the judgement favoured them, not Ekanem’s faction. Again, the party reasoned that INEC was to monitor, not supervise or organise the primary.
In the July report from INEC’s portal, Udofia’s name was conspicuously absent.
Entitled: SUMMARY OF THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES THAT EMERGED FROM THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC) GOVERNORSHIP, SENATORIAL, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PRIMARIES IN AKWA IBOM STATE AS SUBMITTED BY THE MONITORING TEAMS, the report states under status of Akwa Ibom APC governorship primary: Did not hold; Name of elected candidate: Nil and Gender: Nil.
The Electoral Act, 2022 in section 84(1) gives INEC power to monitor the party’s primaries.
Section 82(1) directs political parties to give INEC 21days’ notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting for the purpose of ‘merger’ and … nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified under this Act while subsection (5) of the section says failure by any party to comply with subsection (1) will render such invalid.
However, section 84(13) mandates INEC to exclude candidate(s) of political party(ies) who fail(s) to comply with the provisions of the Act.
It is believed that after this, the electoral umpire will published final lists of cleared candidates, give political parties seven days to substitute any candidate who is dead or is willing to voluntarily withdraw from any position.
Straightnews learned from the INEC Timetable that on August 22, INEC closed the clearance to avoid infringing on the provisions of Electoral Act, 2022 on the conduct of the general elections.
As a result of squabble, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, a former APC governorship aspirant, called it quit to the party and joined New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) as Akwa Ibom governorship candidate for the forthcoming elections.
His supporters deserted ‘‘the troubled house’’ with him to the new-found shelter, while some leading APC members sympathetic to his cause chose to remain in APC to support him to worsen matter for Udofia.
Apart from INEC’s hurdle, Udofia did not know that there is Qua Iboe River (obstacle) to barricade him from entering the promised land- contesting the election.
At the moment, Senator Ita Enang, the immediate past Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs, is holding the jugular of Udofia, whom he accused of participating in what he described as ‘illegal primary.’
Enang had been stridently calling for cancellation of the primary as well as called on the National body of the party to release the list of accredited delegates to enable aspirants wishing to re-contest to know them.
When the deft moves to mediate on the dispute ended in futility, Enang sought solace in a court of competent jurisdiction.
He filed a counter affidavit in opposition to the 2nd Defendants notice of preliminary objection that Obong Stephen Ntukekpo, the deponent, was not the Chairman of the 2nd defendants in Akwa Ibom State.
The Senator averred that he was one of the APC governorship aspirants who participated in the Akwa Ibom State APC Gubernatorial primaries of May 26, 2022.
He also averred that he was dissatisfied with the result of the said AKS Gubernatorial primaries of May 26 hence his decision to file the Suit No. FHC/UYY/CS/114/2022 before the Federal High Court, Uyo on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 while originating summons was amended on June 28.
In the suit, Enang, the Plaintiff sued Mr. Akanimo Asuquo Udofia, All Progressives Congress (APC) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as first, second and third Defendants/Respondents respectively and sought to be joined as an applicant.
The case was filed by Mba E. Ukweni & Associates, 5 Orok Street, Ediba, Qua Town, Calabar on behalf of Enang.
A close source confided in this newspaper that Udofia had visited some party’s bigwigs in Abuja and begged them to support his ambition.
‘‘The bigwigs who wanted to hearken to him gave him a condition to pick a deputy governorship candidate of their choice. When he almost conceded to their request, the immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs waded in and fronted Victor Antai as Udofia’s running mate.
‘‘This choice angered the bigwigs to withdraw their support for Udofia to allow him to swim with his ‘benefactor.’ After this, one of the bigwigs instructed Senator Ita Enang, APC Governorship aspirant, to pursue the case to a logical conclusion,’’ the source hinted.
To be continued
