The Supreme Court in Abuja on Wednesday night affirmed the election of Governor Emmanuel Udom as the governor of Akwa Ibom State and Okezie Ikpeazu also as the duely elected governor of Abia state.
Governor Udom had appealed to the Supreme Court against the nullification of his election by the Court of Appeal.
The seven-man panel presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, unanimously affirmed the election of Emmanuel and Ikpeazu.
The apex court while upholding the governors separate appeals against the judgments of the Court of Appeal which earlier ordered their removal from office afirmed that they were duely elected .
Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Umana Umana had taken Udom to the election tribunal asking the court to nulify the election as there was no election in state.
It would be recalled that the Akwa Ibom State Election Petition Tribunal had earlier nullified elections in 18 local governments and ordered for a rerun, but the Appeal court in its ruling nullified the entire elections in all the 31 local government areas and ordered a rerun.
While Governor Ikpeazu who had earlier won the case brought against him by his main challenger, Alex Otti lost at the Appeal Court as the court had ordered that Otti should be sworn in as the duely elected governor.
Meanwhile, Governor Ayodele Fayose has congratulated governor Emmanuel and Ikpeazu on their victory at the Supreme Court.
Governor Fayose is the congratulatory message posted on his twitter handle said,” God never takes back whatever He gives. Congratulations my brothers, Udom Emmanuel and Okezie Ikpeazu. PDP Power”.
