The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State has taken legal action against President Bola Tinubu, challenging his reported appointment of a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state.
The lawsuit was initiated by the Chairman and Secretary of the Akwa Ibom State PDP, Aniekan Akpan and Harrison Ekpo, respectively. The opposition party is contesting the selection of Etekamba Umoren as the REC for the state.
The Senate recently confirmed the appointment of seven out of the ten RECs presented 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, President Tinubu, the Senate, and Umoren are named as defendants.
The PDP leaders are seeking a court 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 also request 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.”
Furthermore, the plaintiffs are seeking an order of perpetual injunction “restraining the Senate from allowing, permitting, and/or confirming Umoren as a REC and an additional injunction preventing Umoren from acting, assuming the office, and/or presenting himself as a REC for Akwa Ibom State.”
As of now, no specific date has been set for the hearing of the lawsuit.
