The Supreme Court has upheld the election victory of Umo Eno from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the duly elected governor of Akwa Ibom State. The court dismissed the appeals by three parties challenging the outcome of the March 18, 2023, election.
The apex court panel, led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, rejected the appeals filed by the All-Progressives Congress (APC), the Young Progressives Party (YPP), and the Action Alliance (AC). The dismissal was based on the grounds of the non-qualification of the governor, who faced allegations of certificate forgery—allegations vehemently denied by the governor.
The Court of Appeal had previously affirmed the judgment dismissing a suit challenging the primary that selected Umo Eno as the PDP candidate for the state. The appellant, Okon, had sought the disqualification of Eno, claiming that he had forged a West African Examination Certificate (WAEC), which he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the election.
The appellate court, however, dismissed the suit, deeming it lacking in merit, and imposed a fine of 15 million naira against the plaintiff. The judge determined that Okon's arguments were speculative and failed to substantiate the claim that Eno's certificates were forged. As a result, the Supreme Court, in its recent decision, affirmed Eno's election victory, ending the legal challenges the opposing parties posed.
