A federal high court in Abuja has sacked Umo Eno as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom state.

In a judgment delivered on January 20, Fadima Aminu ordered the PDP to submit Michael Enyong’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its candidate.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1295/2022 filed in August, Enyong had submitted that he won the party’s primaries conducted on May 25, 2022.

Enyong had referred the court to an order by Obiora Egwuatu, judge of a federal high court, on May 18 in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/606/2022 which restrained the PDP from utilising its list of ad-hoc delegates to conduct its gubernatorial primary election in Akwa Ibom, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The plaintiff said he emerged winner of the indirect primary election scoring 2,448 out of the 2,776 total accredited votes.

But he said the party refused to submit his name to INEC as the governorship flagbearer which informed his decision to seek legal redress.

While INEC maintained a neutral stance in the matter, the 2nd defendant (PDP) never put in an appearance despite the proof of being served with the originating summons and all other processes.



Delivering the judgment, the judge held that Enyong has been able to prove his case beyond a reasonable doubt.

“In the final analysis, this court holds that the plaintiff has successfully proved his case on the preponderance of evidence. Consequently, the plaintiff is hereby declared the validly nominated gubernatorial candidate of the 2nd Defendant having emerged winner of the conducted primary election in Akwa Ibom state for the forthcoming 2023 general elections held on 25th day of May 2022,” the judge said.

“In the same vein, any other governorship primary election held after the valid election of 25th day of May, 2022, that election having no basis in law, is hereby declared null, void, and of no effect together with its outcome.

“The 2nd defendant (PDP) is hereby ordered to submit and present the name and details of the plaintiff to the 1st defendant as its rightful candidate.

“The 1st defendant (INEC) is to accord the plaintiff recognition, issue him a nomination form or publish his name as the 2nd defendant’s Akwa Ibom state gubernatorial candidate for the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

“The activities of a political party cannot be operated arbitrarily or at the whims or caprices of select individuals, no matter how highly placed.

“Political parties are creations of the constitution and statute. Therefore, the affairs of registered political parties in Nigeria must be run in conformity and in obedience to the law creating them...

seunmsg:
This is a welcome development. The unending crisis in Akwa Ibom PDP should give APC the opportunity of winning the state. I just hope the APC governorship candidate in the state is popular and strong enough to use this opportunity to flip the state.

garfield1:
Finally,udom has lost out along with his albino stooge

seunmsg:
This is a welcome development. The unending crisis in Akwa Ibom PDP should give APC the opportunity of winning the state. I just hope the APC governorship candidate in the state is popular and strong enough to use this opportunity to flip the state.

fergie001:

You can add the pix, so that it can get to fp, but this is a case that is dead on arrival.

It bothers on jurisdiction and the said Baba Ntan doesn't have it.. this judgement is null, void and of no moment.

garfield1:


Not true.baba ntan will be on the ballot for now

fergie001:
Tell me, you are kidding, let's see whether INEC will do otherwise.

It will be easily tossed away, INEC wouldn't even bother for now sef

garfield1:
Guy,you surprise me at times with your statement but I understand you can't keep hiding your true creed.a duly constituted court has given a ruling.until vacated,it has to be obeyed

fergie001:
Now @garfield1, let me get into the meat of it:

1. Enyong emerged winner of a Primary which wasn't conducted by the Party's NWC. Where did he get his delegates from?

2. Did he participate in the NWC-conducted Primary?

3. Every pre-election matter must have a "cause of action", it is that cause of action that births a right of action.

A. The Primary held on May 25/26, 2022, Enyong had 14 days to challenge same, did he?

B. The PDP Certificate of return was issued to Umo Eno on June 6, when did Enyong go to Court?

C. All political parties submitted the name of their Candidates on July 15, when did Enyong go to Court?

Enyong instituted this case on August 1, 2022 well past the 14 days.

Does the Court have jurisdiction?

garfield1:


That is for the appeal court to decide not inec.

fergie001:
@garfield1, he was clever by half by instituting this one, and then dumped knowing that it will be pre-election. Now, filed the second one attached above.

All falls into the same bracket of pre-election. The same action of ante bellum has been treated by that same Court, and affirmed at Appeal and is now before the apex Court.

Attached is the first one he ran away from.

fergie001:
You want INEC to change to Enyong, then when SC rules on Eno, they go back to Okon or Eno depending on who wins. Then maybe after Enyong wins again, they go back again....no nah

The election is March 11: They will be looking at the Courts.

Onuigbo won at the SC on Friday.

garfield1:
Enyong went to court when inec didnt publish his name.that is when the cause started

garfield1:


They just have to obey the courts for now until another vacates.
Nwaoboshi also lost at the apex court.JSC agim was very explicit

fergie001:
I am saying there is time to do whatever they intend to do in the face of conflicting judgements.

fergie001:

His cause of action emerged on June 6, when the Certificate of return was issued to Umo.

garfield1:
Finally,udom has lost out along with his albino stooge

slivertongue:


Black market judgement that I'll be vacated

garfield1:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.thecable.ng/court-sacks-umo-eno-affirms-michael-enyong-as-akwa-ibom-pdp-guber-candidate&ved=2ahUKEwjKobXLwOz8AhXhVKQEHa24BwEQ0PADKAB6BAgJEAE&usg=AOvVaw2ooe-0vvKSOrYwzV9gxsWO

slivertongue:


Black market judgement that I'll be vacated