Court nullifies election of Akwa Ibom PDP Senator

The Federal High Court sitting in Uyo on Monday nullified the election of Senator Bassey Akpan representing Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District.
The ruled that Akpan was not duly elected in the primary election conducted by the Peoples Democratic Party on December 7, 2014.
The judge, Justice Fatun Riman , therefore, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Akpan and awarded N200,000 costs in favour of the plaintiff, Mr Bassey Etim.
The judge also directed INEC to issue a fresh certificate of return to Mr Bassey Etim of the PDP who was the authentic winner of the primary election.
Riman also ordered that Akpan should refund all salaries and allowances earned during his stay in the Senate to the Federal Government.
The defence counsel, Mr Offiong Offiong (SAN), told  newsmen after the judgement that he would brief his client before knowing the next action to take on the matter.
Offiong said :“I cannot advise my client through the media. I will advise him as a professional certainly on the matter when I meet him.”
The lawyer to the plaintiff, Mr Taiwo Abe, described the judgement as a “victory for democracy”.
“I am happy with the judgement, it is victory for democracy, and I can assure you no court of law will fault this judgement.
My client has proved his case and I have no doubt even if they appeal at the Supreme Court, my client will still win,” Abe said.
Etim had approached the court to remove Akpan as Senator for Akwa Ibom North East, arguing that Akpan did not contest in the PDP primary.