Etim EtimJust four weeks to the elections, the battle for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State is still raging as Senator Ita Solomon Enang has threatened to appeal the judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered yesterday (Thursday), at the Supreme Court.
Speaking to this writer this morning, Senator Enang also expressed dismay that he was not even informed that the judgment on his case would be read that yesterday.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had Thursday dismissed Enang’s defense in an appeal filed by Akan Udofia against the judgment of the Federal High Court, Uyo. The Federal High Court had in November ruled that Udofia did not win the APC governorship primary conducted on May 26 because he was not even a member of APC; and that INEC did not monitor the primary as stipulated by the Electoral Act of 2022. The FHC had ordered the party to conduct another primary within 14 days after the court judgment. While the Party refused to conduct another primary, Udofia proceeded to the Court of Appeal where he won on technicalities yesterday.
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‘’I am appealing the judgment. I am going to the Supreme Court because that judgment of yesterday is not acceptable to me…, Enang bellowed at the other end of the phone this morning.’’
“But I understand that you lost because you filed out of time at the Federal High Court’’, I queried.
“I did not file out of time. I did not amend out of time. But we shall meet them at the Supreme Court…’’
“I also heard that you were not even informed that the judgment of your case was coming up yesterday…’’, I pushed.
“You can’t believe what happened,’’ Enang said, with a tinge of consternation. “I was informed that the judgment that would be given yesterday was that of Austin Utuk, but not mine. To confirm that, I even called my lawyer who was in Calabar, and he put me on a conference call with the Court Registrar who confirmed that my own judgment was not ready. So, I actually went to the court yesterday to listen to Austin’s judgment. But as soon as I took my seat, lo and behold, it was my case that was called. There was confusion as my lawyers were not even in court. So, I had to quickly arrange another lawyer to hold brief for my lawyer just so that the judgment could be given; and it was too late for me to rush home, get robed and appear for myself.”
Enang is a lawyer with close to 40 years at the bar.
“That is so strange, Senator. So, tacky. What is the significance of such a mix-up then?’’
“I won’t discuss that now. But I am waiting to obtain a copy of the judgment delivered yesterday. I am heading to the Supreme Court… Akan Udofia is not APC candidate…’’
“Is Austin also appealing?’’ I asked.
‘’I learn so,’’ he replied.
Etim Etim
ETIM ETIM is a journalist, banker and author. He has been a member of the Editorial Board of The Guardian, a Regional Manager in Access Bank and is currently a Columnist in Prime Business Africa, The Cable and Businessday newspapers.
He is also the Chief Executive of Stein Meyer Communications, a major media consultancy and the author of the best-selling book, "Akwa Ibom Heroes: Inside Story of the Fight for Abrogation of Onshore-Offshore Oil Dichotomy" and co-author of another book, "Osinbajo Strides: Defining Moments of an Innovative Leader".
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