In a reaction to the judgment of Appeal Court in Calabar, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, has described the judgment as victory for democracy.
The Court had on Saturday nullified the election of Senator Chris Ekpenyong, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in favour of Godswill Akpabio, a former Senate Minority leader.
Akpabio of All Progressives Congress, APC, had lost to Ekpenyong on February 23, 2019, National Assembly election in Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District.
The minister, therefore, approached the Appellate Court, asking it to upturn the pronouncement of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Delivering judgment, the Appeal Court ordered INEC to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Ekpenyong and conduct a fresh election in the Senatorial District within 90 days.
In his statement on Twitter, Akpabio wrote: “Today’s Appeal Court Judgement is a victory for democracy. Let me say that, I am grateful to God and my people for always standing by me.
“I will never take your support for granted.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party in the state has also reacted to the judgement through their publicity secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong. The party said they receive the judgement in good faith and are ready for election.
“We welcome the judgement of the Court and hereby indicate our preparedness for elections, as this will provide an opportunity for us to widen the margin of victory against Rt. Hon. Emman Akpan, Senator Akpabio and the APC,” part of the statement reads
The party further calls Senator Godswill Akpabio to resign from his ministerial position and meet the party in the field. “We are expectant that the Senator will very soon tender his resignation from his ministerial office to meet us in the campaign field, as the law demands.”
