The Appeal Court sitting in Calabar on Saturday has nullified the election that returned Senator Chris Ekpenyong of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the election of the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District.
The court in its ruling ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Senator Ekpenyong and conduct a rerun in Essien Udim local government area within 90 days.
The former governor was first elected senator from the district in 2015 when he concluded his two terms as governor.
Following INEC’s declaration that Senator Ekpenyong won the election, Akpabio was appointed into President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet in July, serving currently as the Niger-Delta minister.
Akpabio challenged Ekpenyong’s victory at the election’s tribunal. He lost at the tribunal and challenged the decision at the Court of Appeal which has now given him victory.
