The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a suit filed by Senator Ita Enang seeking to annul the primary that produced Akanimo Udofia as the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State.
The Supreme Court also confirmed Udofia as the APC's genuine governorship candidate in the state.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal Abuja, which held that the Federal High Court in Uyo acted without jurisdiction when it declared the APC primary null and void while allowing the primary that produced Udofia as the governorship candidate to proceed.
Enang had prayed the court to declare him as the authentic governorship candidate of the party on the basis that Udofia was not a member of the APC when the party conducted.
The appellate court on January 19 set aside the judgment of the lower court and restored him as the APC candidate, stating that the Federal High Court in Uyo wrongly assumed jurisdiction to entertain the matter contrary to Sections 97 and 98 of the Sheriffs Act.
Enang, dissatisfied with the decision of the Court of Appeal, approached the Supreme Court to challenge the judgement.
The apex court, however, dismissed Enang’s suit on grounds that the trial court had no jurisdiction to question the validity of the waiver granted to Udofia to participate in the primaries, being an internal affair of the party.