The National Assembly election petition tribunal in Uyo on Thursday, upheld the election of Obong Bassey Akpan (OBA) , the senator representing Akwa Ibom North East (Uyo) senatorial district in the Senate, and candidate of the PDP in the 2019 elections.
Affirming the victory of the PDP candidate in the February 2019 national assembly elections, a three man panel headed by Justice Ijorhor at the Sanitation Court, Uyo, described the petition by the APC candidate, Hon Bassey Etim as incompetent and lacking in merit, and awarded N100,000 cost on the petitioner in favour of the PDP candidate, Senator Akpan, who was the 1st respondent in the matter.
Akpan, who is the senate committee chairman (petroleum upstream) has been in a judicial battle with Hon Bassey Etim since after the 2019 national assembly election in which he was declared the winner by INEC.
Reacting to the judgment, Mr Daniel Udoh, who is the chairman , Akwa Ibom North East senatorial constituency office , said the tribunal’s verdict was well anticipated by people of the senatorial district in view of the ‘hard work’ of the party.
Udoh advised the petitioner to discontinue further litigations on the matter, as it would amount to distractions but added that they would gladly follow him if he wishes to appeal the judgement.
Also reacting to the judgment, the publicity secretary, Peoples Democratic Party, Akwa Ibom state chapter, Barr. Ini Ememobong applauded the tribunal for applying the extant law to the facts presented by the PDP team and Senator Akapn’s team.
“The party is jubilant, we cannot but, appreciate the tribunal. Few cases are out, all in favour of the PDP. We await the rest.
“The Court of Appeal is the final bus stop for House of Assembly and National Assembly cases, so, if they decide to go the Court of Appeal, we would be glad to escort them there.”Ememobong said.
