JUST IN: Akpabio bounces back, as Court orders rerun of senatorial race

The Court of Appeal sitting in Calabar, Cross River state, has ordered a rerun election in Akwa Ibom north-west senatorial district which Minister of Niger Delta Godswill Akpabio contested with Senator Chris Ekpeyong.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Ekpeyong, a former deputy governor, who contested under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), winner of the election but Akapbio filed a petition against his victory at the tribunal.

He had asked the tribunal to set aside Ekpenyong’s election, alleging that it was marred by irregularities.

But describing the petition as “lacking in merit”, the tribunal said the petitioner failed to prove that he won the election as well as failed to present convincing evidence of non-compliance with electoral act as raised in his petition.

Dissatisfied with the verdict of the tribunal, he headed to the appellate court.

In its ruling on Saturday, the Court ordered a rerun election in Essien Udim local government, where Akapbio hails from.

The court ruled that the rerun should hold within 90 days.