Akwa Ibom APC Crisis: Akan Udofia abandons court case against Augustine Utuk
Mr Akanimo Udofia, the purported flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State has declined to file any response to the processes filed against him by another APC Governorship aspirant, Mr Augustine Dominic Utuk.
Akanimo Udofia, All Progressives Congress (APC) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) duly served the Writs of Summons as of June 9, 2022.
However, to the consternation of the court, none of the three defendants has filed any reply to the plaintiff’s application.
Sitting on the matter on Tuesday, Justice A. A. Okeke of the Federal High Court, Uyo, announced that if by August 29, 2022, the defendants fail to file their defence, the court would adopt the plaintiff’s processes and proceed to judgment.
Kpoobari Sigalo, Counsel to INEC, informed the court that the agency’s head office’s non-transmission of the summons to the Akwa Ibom State office was the reason he is yet to file his processes.
He was however told by the court that he should go sort it with his agency, as his excuse has nothing to do with the court.
Akanimo Udofia and APC have never been represented since the commencement of the matter.
Mr Augustine Utuk is seeking the nullification of the primaries which produced Mr Akan Udofia as the winner, citing alleged flouting of the Electoral Act 2022 and eligibility of the purported winner.
Utuk is also seeking the court to order to restrain Akan Udofia from parading himself as APC governorship candidate for Akwa Ibom in the forthcoming 2023 general elections
The plaintiff was represented in court by Golden Tamuno.
The case is registered FHC/UY/CS/115/2022.
