NewStats: 3,261,968 , 8,175,679 topics. Date: Saturday, 31 May 2025 at 09:46 AM 3s505

Court stops INEC from issuing Certificate of Return in Akwa Ibom

A Federal High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, Friday, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to action on the issuance of certificate of return to any candidate in respect to Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial election held on February 23, pending the determination of suit before it.
Justice Valentine Ashi made the order in an application, with suit No. FCT/HC/M/2680/19, with Senator Godswill Akpabio as the applicant.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the respondent.
In an exparte motion dated February 28 with an affidavit deposed to by one Daniel Michael Idoko and filed on March 1, Senator Akpabio prayed the court for leave to apply for “judicial review for the issuance of writ of Mandamus, prohibition, injunction and other declaratory reliefs against INEC.
Akpabio also asked the court to direct the respondent to stay further action “particularly further action in respect of issuance of certificate of return to any candidate in respect of the seat of senator representing Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial district on the of election held on the 23rd February, 2029.”
The court in granting the order, said there was[b] “some merit especially in regards to the need to keep things in status quo”[/b]
Thus, the court ordered “Leave is hereby granted to the applicant to apply for judicial review for the issuance of a writ of Mandamus prohibition injunction and other declaratory reliefs against the respondent”
The court further order a stay of issuance of certificate of return to any candidate in respect of the seat as sought by the applicant
Justice Ashi also directed the parties to first address the court on jurisdiction on the next adjourned date, the court adjourned to March 8 for hearing of the case.
Meanwhile, according to results declared by INEC, Ekpeyong polled 118,215 votes ahead of Akpabio of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who secured 83,158 votes in the Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial district election. But an incontrovertible result sheet from Akwa Ibom INEC office showed different figures that had Akpabio scoring 138,256 votes as against Ekpeyong’s 123,843.

@ www.airwavesreport.com

Lol.......they av already started intimidating jugdes.......it's ok.

Justice must prevail..pdp and their rigging attitude..smh

It's already obvious, Akpabio lost the elections....

Nigerians are just watching...


I just wish INEC can carefully stay out of this and do what is right......

Abi dem swear for una.. @INEC?

When he was in PDP, he caused lot of troubles for APC, people lost their lives all because of him... Now he all of a sudden swift to APC and now causing troubles for PDP......hmm

Guys don wise up already sir...e don do

Let the will of the people prevail....

akpabio is the next Senate president

this dog faced akpabio should take steps backward

he lost

I see Inec canceling the election because most people actually wanted akpabio

Iyajison:
It's already obvious, Akpabio lost the elections....

Nigerians are just watching...


I just wish INEC can carefully stay out of this and do what is right......

Abi dem swear for una.. @INEC?

I thought you are jet Lee . You can start the protest na since you don't want Nigerians to look

AirwavesReport:
Court stops INEC from issuing Certificate of Return in Akwa Ibom

A Federal High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, Friday, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to action on the issuance of certificate of return to any candidate in respect to Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial election held on February 23, pending the determination of suit before it.
Justice Valentine Ashi made the order in an application, with suit No. FCT/HC/M/2680/19, with Senator Godswill Akpabio as the applicant.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the respondent.
In an exparte motion dated February 28 with an affidavit deposed to by one Daniel Michael Idoko and filed on March 1, Senator Akpabio prayed the court for leave to apply for “judicial review for the issuance of writ of Mandamus, prohibition, injunction and other declaratory reliefs against INEC.
Akpabio also asked the court to direct the respondent to stay further action “particularly further action in respect of issuance of certificate of return to any candidate in respect of the seat of senator representing Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial district on the of election held on the 23rd February, 2029.”
The court in granting the order, said there was[b] “some merit especially in regards to the need to keep things in status quo”[/b]
Thus, the court ordered “Leave is hereby granted to the applicant to apply for judicial review for the issuance of a writ of Mandamus prohibition injunction and other declaratory reliefs against the respondent”
The court further order a stay of issuance of certificate of return to any candidate in respect of the seat as sought by the applicant
Justice Ashi also directed the parties to first address the court on jurisdiction on the next adjourned date, the court adjourned to March 8 for hearing of the case.
Meanwhile, according to results declared by INEC, Ekpeyong polled 118,215 votes ahead of Akpabio of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who secured 83,158 votes in the Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial district election. But an incontrovertible result sheet from Akwa Ibom INEC office showed different figures that had Akpabio scoring 138,256 votes as against Ekpeyong’s 123,843.

I think this is an abuse of court processes. Election matters are only handled by tribunal before appeal and Supreme Court

Why is Akpabio so desperate
He has lost he should accept defeat and move on

I knew right from time that he can't win Akwa Ibom as an APC member.

Kingsley1000:
I see Inec canceling the election because most people actually wanted akpabio

Most people from ogbomosho and kano do not decide senatorial elections in Akwa Ibom state

Hitler Akpabio's handiwork

A man that was a master, later became a "houseboy" and now a loser.

rottennaija:


I think this is an abuse of court processes. Election matters are only handled by tribunal before appeal and Supreme Court

I trust the no-nonsense Mike Ngini to ignore the oluwole order.That is if at all Chris Ekpenyong has not already collected his certificate of return

I thought all grievances must go through the election tribunal

D irony... Wetin concern High Court concern electoral matter?

I am sure that APC leaders are wise enough to know that it will be dangerous to set a bad precedence of using court to stop issuance of certificate of return in the case of Akpabio. PDP and other parties may adopt that in next election.

Akpabio Is A Joker, Nothing Will Happen, He Has Lost, Period.

Kingsley1000:
I see Inec canceling the election because most people actually wanted akpabio

I agree with you, most people in Oshodi and Ogbomosho wanted him to win

Abuse of court process...elections matters are only entertain by the tribunal at first instance after the elections have been conducted. NJC should act quickly and retire that useless judge that gave the kangaroo order and recommend him for prosecution

why bending the rules. IMEC must issue certificate in Ekpenyong while Akpabio should proceed to Tribunal

Akpabio didn't expect the loss. He was already eyeing senate president seat. So he expect APC to win in that state. Let them redo the election. PDP will flog him again and again.

truthfulparrot:
I am sure that APC leaders are wise enough to know that it will be dangerous to set a bad precedence of using court to stop issuance of certificate of return in the case of Akpabio. PDP and other parties may adopt that in next election.

Yes, this is a very bad precedence and an obvious abuse of court processes.
Akpabio should go to the election petition tribunal instead of setting a bad precedence for future election outcomes.

Nigeria is where Professors rig elections...... but expel students for examination malpractice

An election result has been announced,if APC and Akpabio have issues with that,they should head to the Election Tribunal..
This Kangaroo Court Order is dead on arrival..

Sore loser. And these guys want Atiku to just forget his own? ,

Anybody wey wan buy aso ebi for PMB swearing-in... it's available...

The colours are:
Envy Green,
Pepper dem Red,
and Happy white.

Lol

Fulani slaves want to bring killings to Akwa Ibomite because of personal selfish interest.


IPOB for your freedom.

In that case, I advise PDP to hurriedly get an injunction stopping the swearing in of Buhari come may 29th since INEC quickly issued him certificate of return.

Hypocrisy smelling everywhere

Iyajison:
It's already obvious, Akpabio lost the elections....

Nigerians are just watching...


I just wish INEC can carefully stay out of this and do what is right......

Abi dem swear for una.. @INEC?

I'm sorry Sir, He didn't. Irrespective of my party, I voted for this man. What baffled me is that every ward in my LGA that Akpabio won is cancelled including his LGA. Let the court decides.