Appeal Court reinstates Eno as PDP governorship candidate in A’Ibom, party expels Enyong for forgery
Ahead of the March 11 state election in the country, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has reinstated Umo Eno of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as candidate of the party for the Akwa Ibom governorship poll.
A ruling of the appellant court, Tuesday also sacked the Micheal Enyong as the candidate of rhe ruling PDP in the state.
The court presided over by Justice Hamma Akawu Barka gave the verdict, Tuesday evening, February 21.
Eno, a former Commissioner for Land in Akwa Ibom, had won the PDP governorship primary poll but his nomination was set aside by a Federal High Court in Abuja in January, this year.
However, the appeal court found merit in Eno’s application, voided the judgement of the Federal High Court, and set it aside on the grounds that it was predicated on errors.
Justice Barka agreed with Eno’s counsel that the Federal High Court judgment was delivered in error and that the court was misled by the plaintiff in the matter to arrive at an unjust conclusion.
The judge held that the issue of statutory delegates voting at the primary election is an internal affair of the party and that the lower court ought not to have enquired into the issue.
He also agreed with Eno’s lawyers that the National Working Committee (NWC) of a political party has the power to conduct primary elections for the nominating of candidates for the general election.
The appellate court further held that since the lower court has no jurisdiction to inquire into the internal affairs of PDP, the judge has no discretion in law to exercise in the matter.
Justice Barka thereafter upheld the appeal of the PDP and vacated all orders made by the Federal High Court judgment in favour of Michael Enyong.
The fate of Enyong is yet unknown as reports claim he may have been expelled by the PDP following the ruling of the Appeal Court on the matter.
Enyong was reportedly expelled by the PDP for alleged forgery in his suit brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja against Eno Umo.
