A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to accept and publish Godswill Akpabio as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Akwa Ibom North/West Senatorial Candidate.
It would be recalled that INEC had omitted the names of the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, a former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Akpabio from its published lists, saying they did not participate in the primary elections.
INEC, had on July 9, insisted that Bashir Machina and Udom Ekpoudom would run as the APC senatorial candidates for the districts.
Justice Emeka Nwite, however, in a judgment on Thursday, declared INEC’s position as illegal.
According to the Judge, INEC couldn’t have rejected Akpabio since his name was sent as the APC candidate.