On Wednesday, the Supreme Court sitting in Abuja ruled in favour of Governor Udom Emmanuel following a long legal battle between the governor and his APC opponent, Umana Okon Umana stretching back to the dramatic April 11th, 2015 gubernatorial elections.
Udom Emmanuel's election as the governor of the oil-rich Akwa Ibom State has been upheld by the Supreme Court as it gave the ruling validating the April 11 governorship election on Wednesday night, but did not provide reasons for its judgment.
The Supreme Court reversed the decision of the Court of Appeal, which nullified Emmanuel’s election, ruling that Emmanuel of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), won the lawfully cast votes in the April 11, 2015 election.
The court said that the full details of the ruling would be provided on a February 15.
It can be recalled that the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had on December 18, nullified the Akwa Ibom State governorship election of April 11, removing Emmanuel from office as his election was challenged by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Umana Umana.
At the election tribunal, Emmanuel of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had secured partial victory, with the election cancelled only in 18 out of the state’s 31 local government areas.
The tribunal had ordered a rerun and Emmanuel had challenged the ruling, insisting he won in all 31 LGAs. The APC candidate, Umana, also appealed against the ruling, seeking a total nullification of the election.
But a five-man panel at the Court of Appeal dismissed Emmanuel’s argument, and cancelled the entire election. The appeal court had said the tribunal was wrong in its refusal to comply with section 179 (2) of the Constitution.