Court of Appeal upturns Eyibo’s election

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has upturned the election of Hon. Eseme Eyibo as the representative of Eket Federal Constituency in the National Assembly.

In his place, the court ordered the leadership of the House of Representatives to immediately swear-in Dan Bassey Abia, whom it said is the legitimate candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the election.

The judge ruled: “The primary of the PDP held on the 7th and 8th January through which Dan Bassey Abia emerged as the party’s candidate for the April elections is hereby upheld as it was the primary that was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission and annexed in the suit.

“The trial judge erred by saying that the name of Abia be removed and replaced with that of Eyibo.

“The party primary is the exclusive right of a political party as the party determines who its candidate in an election should.

“The said primary through which Eyibo purportedly emerged, there was nothing before the court to show that it was either monitored by the party or INEC.”

The judge said it “amounts to one imposing himself on the party and having sneaked into the National Assembly. It is hereby ordered that he vacates the seat and that Abia be sworn-in immediately.”