Aniekan Bassey of the Peoples Democratic Occasion, PDP, used to be declared the rightful senator for the Akwa Ibom Northeast senatorial district by the UYO Nationwide Meeting Election Tribunal, which is situated in Uyo.
Bassey used to be proclaimed the winner of the Senate district election held on February 25, 2023, by the Neutral Electoral Commission (INEC).
However, in its ruling on September 7, 2023, the tribunal panel presided over by Hon. Justice B.A. Taiwo brushed aside the All Progressives Congress (APC) charm made by Mr. Emaeyak Ukpong towards Bassey for lack of benefit.
The tribunal determined that Emaeyak Ukpong used to be unable to increase any of the arguments he made.
Moreover, it sure that now not one in every of the petitioner’s claims including crude balloting, pervasive anomalies, and conformity with Electoral Act.
In a petition submitted by his attorney Barr. Jumbo Udom, Ukpong attempted to lead the courtroom to annul Aniekan Bassey’s victory in the 2023 Nationwide Meeting election and converse himself the winner.
The Neutral Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, and Senator Bassey’s lead attorneys instructed the tribunal to brush off the petition on the grounds that it lacked substance since the burden of proof rested with the petitioner.
In consequence, the tribunal denied the petition and upheld Senator Bassey’s possibility for the Akwa Ibom Northeast (Uyi) senate seat.
Expectedly whereas reacting to the judgement, Senator Aniekan Bassey hailed the tribunal for upholding the rule of thumb of regulations towards emotions, and sentiment.
Bassey who used to be the immediate past Speaker of Akwa Ibom Advise Home of Meeting described the judgement as a victory for democracy, including that the judgment over as soon as more reaffirmed that the of us of the Senatorial district voted overwhelmingly for the PDP.
