Governor Umo Eno Appeals for Dismissal of Senator Bassey Akpan’s Challenge

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has called on the Court of Appeal in Lagos to reject the appeal filed by Senator Bassey Akpan of the Young Progressives Party (YPP).

The Governor is pushing for the affirmation of the lower court’s decision, which recognized him as the victor of the March 18, 2023, governorship election.

The YPP, alongside Senator Akpan, are contesting the judgement of the Governorship Petitions Tribunal in Uyo, which ratified Eno’s election as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

In a post-hearing statement released on Monday by his Senior Special Adviser on Research and Documentation, Dr. Essien Ndueso, the Governor, represented by his lead counsel, Paul Usoro, SAN, refuted the appellants’ claims.

Specifically, they tackled the argument that the Supreme Court’s decision regarding certificate forgery involving Mr. Akan Okon was distinct from the certificate forgery allegation raised at the elections tribunal by Senator Akpan.NYSC Portal

He had argued: “When the court gave the judgement, it clearly decided that the said documents were not forged but belonged to the second respondent. It implies that the judgement is applicable to PDP, INEC, the court, or any establishment for that matter.”

He argued further that: “It was legally imperative that there should be an end to litigation, and as such, the appellants had no reason to keep belabouring the court over a matter that had been sufficiently resolved at the highest court of the land.”