Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC), chaired by Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak, had scheduled elections for the 329 Wards across the 31 Councils. But the APC led by the State Chairman, Dr. Amadu Atai, faulted the action, arguing that AKISIEC has not complied with all the necessary processes including updating voters’ register as well as publishing same for public scrutiny within the stipulated 60 days. And the Federal High Court on Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo, the State capital, dismissed the suit as lacking in merit and “has no basis in law”. According to the Presiding Judge, Justice Fatun Riman, the case was already dead on arrival because “the suit has no basis in law and lacked the backing of the 1999 constitution, as amended”. The Court held that “the APC has failed to present cogent reasons for their suit, which would have been the foundation on which the established facts in support of the suit would exist”. The argument by APC that AKISIEC should not consider using the voters’ register used during the 2015 elections for the exercise was also dismissed by Riman. He agreed with the submissions of AKISIEC and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), that the same 2015 voters’ register were used in the conduct of Council polls in Lagos and Benue States. Speaking to reporters on the sideline after the case, the PDP Legal Adviser, Mr. Goddy Umoh, expressed delights at the outcome of the case and thanked the Judge for mature handling of the proceedings. He noted that a lot of cash and resources have been injected into the preparation and conduct of the polls, adding that it would have been a huge setback if the case had gone otherwise. “We got scared when you know how much money is put in place in preparation for the forthcoming elections. It would have been disastrous if the judgment had gone the other way”, he enthused.]]>

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