Just In : PDP Drags Tinubu To Another Court After Supreme Court Judgement (DETAILS)
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State has taken President Bola Tinubu to court, alleging that he appointed a member of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The lawsuit was filed by the Chairman and Secretary of the state PDP, Aniekan Akpan and Harrison Ekpo, respectively. They are contesting the selection of Etekamba Umoren as the REC for the state.
On Wednesday, the Senate confirmed the appointments of seven out of the ten RECs nominated by the President, including Umoren.
In the suit, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/146/2023, the plaintiffs named Tinubu, the Senate, and Umoren as defendants. They provided colored photographs of Umoren wearing APC attire on campaign grounds, along with video clips of him campaigning for the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, while clad in APC clothing.
The PDP leaders are asking the court to declare that “the 1st defendant (President Tinubu) cannot present the 3rd defendant (Umoren) to the 2nd defendant (Senate) for confirmation as REC for Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.”
Furthermore, they seek a court declaration that “the appointment of the 3rd defendant as REC for Akwa Ibom State is unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional, null and void ab initio and of no effect whatsoever.”
The plaintiffs request the court to issue a perpetual injunction restraining the Senate from confirming Umoren as a REC and to prevent Umoren from acting, assuming the office, or representing himself as a REC for Akwa Ibom State.
No specific date has been set for the hearing of the suit.
Meanwhile, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, held a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, expressing the opposition party’s objection to Umoren’s appointment as Akwa Ibom State REC. Ologunagba alleged that Umoren’s appointment was part of a strategy by the ruling party to manipulate future elections and maintain its hold on power.
The PDP scribe said, “Of particular concern is the brazen imposition of a card-carrying member and prominent leader of the APC in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Etekamba Umoren, as the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, despite the loud and widespread outcry and rejection by Nigerians, and particularly our party, the PDP, and the people of Akwa Ibom State.
“The PDP, therefore, in clear and unequivocal terms rejects the imposition of Etekamba Umoren as INEC REC for Akwa Ibom State being conceived in iniquity and in flagrant violation of the express provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022 and the universal demand of impartiality and non-partisanship of an electoral body and its officials.”
Ologunagba characterized Umoren’s appointment as a severe blow to the credibility of INEC as a cornerstone of democracy and the integrity of the electoral procedure.
He disclosed that the PDP is cognizant of the assignment given to Umoren by the APC leadership, purportedly aimed at leveraging the position of REC to potentially compromise vital procedures, resources, and systems. This includes activities such as voter registration, distribution of Voter Cards, manipulation of the Voter Register, demarcation of electoral constituencies, and exerting pressure on INEC personnel.
Ologunagba firmly stated that Umoren’s appointment represents a provocative and contentious violation of the autonomy, trustworthiness, and standing of the electoral framework.
“Etekamba Umoren should therefore steer clear of INEC office in Akwa Ibom State. President Bola Tinubu should immediately commence the process of appointing a neutral Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State so as to avert crisis and illegitimacy in future elections in the state,” he said.
