A
abujagirl
Guest
The Court of Appeal, Abuja, on Tuesday reserved judgment in an appeal case filed against the nomination of Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom as PDP governorship candidate in the 2011 election.
Justice J.T Tur reserved the judgment indefinitely after counsel to parties adopted their written addresses.
Mr Frank Okon, also a PDP aspirant for the position, is challenging the decision of Justice Abdul Kafarati to uphold the nomination of the governor.
Adopting his address, Mr Lasun Sanusi (SAN), counsel to Okon, argued that the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) technically excluded the appellant from the primaries.
He explained that in the attempt to stop his client, the party breached the provisions of the party guidelines.
Sanusi further said that the provisions of the Electoral Act as well as the party’s constitution were violated in a view to keep Okon out of the contest.
He submitted that his client had the "locus standi’’ to challenge the process, adding that "it was both a sham and fraudulent’’.
Okon is praying the court to declare him the duly elected governor of Akwa Ibom since he was screened and cleared to take part in the poll.
He also argued that Akpabio’s name was signed and returned to INEC by the former National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Okwezeli Nwodo, on Jan. 16, 2012.
Okon submitted that action was belated as the court had removed the first respondent (Akpabio) from office on Jan. 12, 2012.(NAN)
