Court of Appeal dismisses case against Akwa Ibom State APC Chairman, Stephen Ntukekpo

Dennis Udoma, Uyo

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division on Thursday dismissed an appeal brought by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the election of Obong Stephen Ntukekpo as the chairman of the Akwa Ibom chapter of the party.

Delivering his judgement on the appeal, the Presiding Judge, Hon Justice Haruna Simon Tsamanni, nullified the appeal as a result of the withdrawal of the Appellant (the APC) from the case.

In the Appeal filed by Senator John James Akpan Udoedehe on March 28, 2022, he claimed to be the National Secretary of the APC/CECPC and also sought a Stay of Execution of the Orders of the Court.

The Motion for Stay has not been heard as parties are still exchanging processes.

In his reaction to the Appeal, Obong Stephen Ntukekpo had challenged Senator Udoedehe’s capacity to maintain the Appeal filed on March 28, 2022 as National Secretary of the APC/CECPC having left office on March 26, 2022. He argued that Udoedehe’s name be struck out of the Appeal for lack of locus standi.

He argued further that Senator John James Akpan Udoedehe cannot initiate and maintain any Appeal as National Secretary of the defunct CECPC or in his personal capacity just as Comrade Adams Oshiomhole couldn’t initiate or maintain any action in the name of the National Chairman of APC.

Today Thursday, April 7, 2022, the APC (the main Appellant) withdrew its Appeal against the validly elected Chairman of APC in Akwa Ibom State, Obong Stephen Ntukekpo and same was dismissed despite frantic arguments put up by Solomon Umoh, SAN, who later conceded to the withdrawal.