The Appeal Court in Lagos dismissed two challenges brought before it by the governorship candidates of the Action Alliance and the Accord Party, Akpan Jeremiah and Emem Coffie, respectively, against the election of Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State.
The three-man panel ruled on Friday that Eno is still the legally elected governor of Akwa Ibom State.
Emem Coffie, the Accord Party’s governorship candidate, has petitioned the Appeal Court, requesting that the tribunal’s decision be reversed.
Kofie maintained, through his attorney, Chidi Nwachukwu, that he deserved to be declared governor because the other contestants in the election were ineligible to run.
However, counsel to Governor Eno, Paul Usoro, and counsel to INEC, Kolapo Kolade and Mofesomo Oyetibo, disputed the appellants’ claims that 800 polling units recorded infractions, claiming that no effort was made by the petitioners to identify the 800 polling units, nor was any attempt made to bring witnesses from any of the said polling units.
The respondents also informed the court that the appellants’ only witness was the governorship candidate, Emem Coffie, who admitted that he was only in his polling unit and left after voting on the specified date.
They claimed that the appellants acted on ‘hearsay,’ which is why their petition was dismissed by the tribunal.
In his appeal, Akpan Abraham of the Action Alliance alleged that INEC had wrongfully rejected him and his party.
However, in its decision, the appellate court confirmed the respondents’ arguments and rejected the complaint as without merit.