Judex Okoro, Calabar
An Appeal Court sitting in Calabar on Wednesday re-affirmed that Sen. John Owan Enoh and all other candidates whose names were submitted to INEC by the National Working Committee of the All Progressive Congress (APC) remain the candidates for the elections in the state.
The Appeal Court presided over by Hon. Justice M.A. Owoade, in Suit No CA/C/65M/2019, also reaffirmed that the Sir John Ochala-led State Executive Committee of the APC is the only exco known to the party.
Justice Owoade cautioned INEC against meddling in the internal affairs of the APC, adding that the commission acted ‘ultra vires’ by attempting to replace candidates of the party.
The court denied ever ruling on the replacement of APC candidates in the ongoing elections and also granted a stay of execution of a Calabar High Court judgement which set aside the state exco as well as the candidacy of the party’s candidates for last Saturday’s and the March 9 polls.
The Federal High Court 2 presided over by Hon. Justice S. A. Amobeda, had on February 11, 2019, given judgment in the suit with number FHC/CA/CS/73/2018, in which the court recognised the Etim John-led leadership of the party as the authentic leadership of the party in the state.
Other appellants in the appeal are Bishop Victor Ebong and Bassey Ita.
Parties interested/ applicants in the appeal are Sen. Owan Enoh, Sen. Victor Ndoma Egba, and Dr. Bassey Etim Nakanda.