Senate: Akpabio withdraws suit, heads to elections tribunal

A former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has withdrawn the suit he filed at the FCT High Court challenging the result of the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District election in which Chris Ekpenyong was declared winner.

Counsel to Akpabio, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), on Friday, informed the court of Akpabio’s decision to withdraw the suit. He said the senator would pursue his grievances at the national assemblies’ elections petitions tribunal in the state.

Justice Valentine Ashi had earlier ordered INEC not to issue certificate of return to Ekpenyong following the ex parte application by Akpabio.

Justice Ashi also ordered INEC to stay further action in respect of the February 23 senatorial election in the state pending the determination of its jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

“Additionally, I direct that parties should address me on jurisdiction on the next adjourned date,” Justice Ashi said.

The ex parte application was brought by Senator Akpabio of the APC challenging the results of the election, which produced Ekpenyong of the PDP.

In the suit marked: FCT/HC/2680/19, Akpabio had also sought “judicial review for the issuance of writ of Mandamus, prohibition, injunction and other declaratory reliefs against INEC.”

The court in granting the order, said there was “some merit especially in regard to the need to keep things in status quo.”