The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State has initiated legal action against President Bola Tinubu.
The legal action is accusing him of appointing a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Background
The lawsuit was filed by Aniekan Akpan and Harrison Ekpo, the Chairman and Secretary of the state PDP, respectively.
They contest the appointment of Etekamba Umoren as the REC for the state.
The most senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of Umoren, one of the ten RECs presented by the President.
The PDP’s lawsuit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/146/2023, names Tinubu, the senate, and Umoren as defendants.
The plaintiffs included in their originating summons, photographs of Umoren in APC attire campaigning and clips of him endorsing senate President Godswill Akpabio in APC clothing.
They request the court to declare that President Tinubu cannot present Umoren to the senate for confirmation as Akwa Ibom state’s REC.
They seek a court declaration that Umoren’s appointment is “unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional, null and void ab initio and of no effect whatsoever.”
The PDP leaders also seek an order preventing the Senate from confirming Umoren as a REC and restraining Umoren from acting as a REC for Akwa Ibom State.
No specific hearing date has been set for the case.
Read Also : Appeal court dismisses Ohere’s appeal, declares Natasha winner
PDP holds press briefing
Meanwhile, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, addressed the press, expressing the party’s opposition to Umoren’s appointment as Akwa Ibom state REC.
Ologunagba alleged that this appointment was a part of the ruling party’s strategy to manipulate future elections and maintain its hold on power.
He asserted that Umoren’s appointment is a direct violation of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the demand for impartiality and non-partisanship in the electoral process.
The PDP sees this appointment as a serious threat to INEC’s credibility and the integrity of the electoral system.
Ologunagba claimed that Umoren’s mission, as handed to him by the APC leadership, is to compromise various aspects of the electoral process.
The PDP firmly rejects this appointment and calls for the appointment of a neutral REC to avert future election-related crises and illegitimacy in Akwa Ibom State.