By Silas Odey
The Appeal Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State has nullified the election of the senator representing Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, Senator Christopher Ekpenyong of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State.
The appellate court in a petition filed by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election in the senatorial district within 90 days.
Akpabio had approached the appeal court seeking it to set aside the ruling of the election petitions tribunal in Akwa Ibom state alleging that the election which produced Ekpenyong as senator was marred by irregularities.
But the tribunal dismissed his petition and declared Ekpenyong as the winner of the election.
Akpabio, dissatisfied with the verdict of the tribunal, he headed to the appellate court.
In its ruling on Saturday, the Court ordered a rerun election in Essien Udim local government, where Akapbio hails from.
The court ruled that the rerun should hold within 90 days.
