TheCable

The Akwa Ibom State election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja, affirmed the election of Godswill Akpabio,  former governor of the state, on Wednesday.

Goddy Anunihu, chairman of the tribunal, ruled that Akpabio won the election in ‎Akwa Ibom north-west senatorial district.

Inibehe Okori, candidate of the All‎ Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 28 election had asked the tribunal to annul Akpabio’s victory on the ground that he was not the original candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the poll.

“There is abundant evidence that the electorate, including the petitioners, were not in any way deceived as to the senatorial district which the 1st respondent ‎was nominated to contest the election,” Okori held.

“There is also evidence that the 1st petitioner bought the form of the 3rd respondent for the same Akwa Ibom north west senatorial district before he lost the ticket and decamped to the APC.

“If the petitioners had any reason to believe that the 1st respondent was not qualified to contest the election, they would have taken up the matter immediately and do the needful.

“We hold that the petitioners are not therefore entitled to any of the reliefs they sought in this petition and it is therefore accordingly dismissed.”

Akpabio is the minority leader of the senate.