A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has rejected a bid by Senator Ita Enang to strike out APC Governorship Candidate, Obong Akan Udofia, action against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for allegedly being filed out of time.
It will be recalled that Akan Udofia had filed an action to compel INEC to publish his name and particulars having been declared the winner of the APC Governorship Primaries in Akwa Ibom State.
Addressing the Court on Thursday, the Counsel to Udofia, Valentine Offia argued that INEC’s omission of Akan Udofia’s name occurred on the 22nd of July while the suit was filed on the 1st of August 2022.
He further established that the computation of time falls within the statutory 14 days period for such pre-election matters prescribed in 285(9) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
Offia submitted that the suit is not arising from any dispute during the party primaries.
The Court upheld Akan Udofia’s argument that the case was properly filed in time thereby thwarting any move by Senator Ita Enang to render it out of time.
The case was, however, adjourned to 17th October, 2022.
