Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja has fixed November 28 to rule in a request by Senator Ita Enang to be joined in a suit instituted by
Akanimo Udofia and the All Progressives Congress against Independent National Electoral Commission .
The application, seeking to join Enang, a governorship aspirant of APC as 2nd defendant in the suit, was dated and filed on October 12.Udofia, a factional governorship candidate of the APC, is seeking an order compelling INEC to accept his name as governorship candidate for Akwa Ibom 2023 poll. Meanwhile, in the affidavit in support of the motion for joinder, Enang averred that he contested in the APC Akwa Ibom governorship election of May 26, alongside with the 2nd plaintiff and others.
When the matter was called, Enang, who appeared for himself, told the court that on October 19, he filed a better and further affidavit where he exhibited INEC’s report that there was no governorship primary election for APC in Akwa Ibom. “My Lord, this is the same subject matter, same claim and same parties. I have not seen this practice for a long time.
He argued that Udofia and his lawyer filed a non-multiplicity of suit before Abuja court despite a similar matter pending in Uyo court.“On why I should be joined in the suit, I am the appropriate person who contested and won in the primary election. If any name must be forwarded to INEC, it has to be my name,” he said.