Akpabio Gives Reasons For Withdrawing Suit Challenging Election Defeat Says To File It At Tribunal

Akpabio on Friday noted that he withdrew the suit from the high court so he could file his case “I needed to withdraw this other matter so that it won’t end up being an abuse of court process (to have the same matter in a court and a tribunal at the same time). “I must reclaim my mandate,” he said. The former Governor, contested for re-election for a second term under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC)  District but unfortunately lost to the  Chris Ekpenyong, a candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). After the election on 23rd of Febuary, Senator Akpabio, claimed victory in the election and accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of tampering with the election result. Mr Akpabio, acting against the convention where aggrieved election losers seek redress at election tribunal, filed a lawsuit in a high court in Abuja for “a judicial review for the issuance of a writ of mandamus, prohibition, injunction, and other declaratory reliefs against the respondent (INEC).” He obtained a controversial order which restrained INEC from issuing a certificate of return to his opponent, Mr Ekpenyong.]]>