October 07, (THEWILL) – A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, has Thursday, rejected a bid by Senator Ita Enang, to strike out APC Governorship Candidate, Obong Akan Udofia’s action against INEC, for allegedly being filed out of time.
THEWILL recalls 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 Primary of May 27, 2022, in Akwa Ibom State.
Addressing the Court, 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.
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 has, however, been adjourned to 17th October, 2022, for a hearing on joinder.
