The Peoples Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom State has taken legal action against President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of appointing a member of his party, the All Progressives Congress, as the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission for the state.
They are challenging the selection of Etekamba Umoren as the REC for Akwa Ibom State.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, addressed the press in Abuja on Thursday, expressing the opposition party’s disapproval of Umoren’s appointment as Akwa Ibom State REC.
Ologunagba alleged that Umoren’s appointment was part of a scheme by the ruling party to manipulate future elections and maintain its grip on power.
Ologunagba stated, “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.”
The PDP spokesperson characterized Umoren’s appointment as a serious blow to INEC’s credibility as a democratic institution and the integrity of the electoral process.
He alleged that Umoren had been assigned a mission by the APC leadership to compromise crucial processes, materials, and systems within INEC.
Ologunagba called Umoren’s appointment a provocative and unacceptable violation of the independence, integrity, and credibility of the electoral system.
He urged President Tinubu to select a neutral REC for Akwa Ibom State to avoid potential crises and legitimacy issues in future state elections.
The lawsuit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/146/2023, was filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja by Aniekan Akpan and Harrison Ekpo, who are the Chairman and Secretary of the state PDP, respectively.
The plaintiffs have named Tinubu, the Senate, and Umoren as defendants in the case.
The PDP leaders have provided photographic evidence in their filing, showing Umoren campaigning for the APC, wearing the party’s clothing on campaign grounds, and appearing in APC attire while campaigning for the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The plaintiffs are seeking the court’s declaration 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.”
They are also requesting the court to declare 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.”
Additionally, the PDP is seeking a court order for a perpetual injunction “restraining the Senate from allowing, permitting, and/or confirming Umoren as a REC and a further injunction restraining Umoren from acting, assuming the office, and/or parading himself as a REC for Akwa Ibom State.”
As of now, no specific date has been set for the hearing of the case.
