Akwa Ibom guber: Tribunal strikes out REC Igini’s name from suit challenging Udom’s election

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Thursday, struck out the name of the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Mike Igini, as one of the parties in the suit filed by the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Nsima Ekere.

Ekere is challenging the declaration of Udom Emmanuel as winner of the March 9th governorship election in Akwa Ibom State.

The tribunal led by justice A. M. Yakubu bemoaned counsel for the petitioner for joining Igini to the suit in the first instance, stressing that Igini had no personal case to answer.

He argued that Igini only functioned as an officer of INEC in the electioneering and “who” is already a party in the suit but not in his personal capacity.

The court consequently struck out Igini’s name from the petition.

Counsel to the petitioner, J S. Okutepa SAN apologised to the tribunal for wasting its time with the erroneous joinder and thanked the court for its magnanimity in granting the prayers of the third –fourth respondents who moved the motion to strike out Igini’s name from the suit, and described same as being meritorious.