A’Ibom APC Gov’ship dispute: Court rules in Ita Enang’s favour

Uduak Ikpat

The Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, today ruled that all processes filed by Senator Ita Enang in his case challenging the purported emergence of Mr Akanimo Udofia as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State are valid and were done in accordance to the rules of the court and extant laws.

Counsel to Akanimo Udofia and the APC had asked the court to set aside a motion for amendment by the plaintiff’s counsel, expressing concern that bringing in additional documents to the matter would end up confusing the court and delay the processes.

The defendants also argued that the originating summons filed in Uyo but served on the defendants in Abuja should have been endorsed to indicate that it was served outside where the court is domiciled.

Delivering ruling on the plea challenging plaintiff’s request for amendment, the court granted the plaintiff’s application and ordered that the defendants be served with and reply to the amended processes within 5 days.

The court also gave the plaintiff 2 days to reply to the defendant’s counter affidavit.

The court however deferred the ruling on the jurisdiction of filing the summons till the final judgement.

The case was adjourned to September 1st, 2022.