Udofia intends to go to court to challenge the annulment of the APC governorship primary.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State, Obong Akan Udofia, has gone to appeal court to challenge the Federal High Court judgment sitting in Uyo that nullified the party’s primary that produced him as the candidate.

On Monday, Justice A.A. Okeke ruled that Udofia was ineligible to run in the Akwa Ibom APC primary because he was not a member of the APC.

Mr. Don Etim, the Director General of the Akan Udofia Campaign Council, however, described the judgment as a gross violation and infringement of Udofia’s constitutional right to Freedom of Association under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, by denying him the rights and privileges available to APC members.

According to him, there was a preponderance of evidence that Udofia resigned his membership in Akwa Ibom State’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The resignation of Director-General Udofia was formally communicated to the PDP in a letter dated May 1, 2022 and addressed to the Ward Executive Chairman of Mbiaso Ward 1 Nsit Ibom and the Chairman of the PDP’s Akwa Ibom state chapter, respectively.

“As a result, we unequivocally wish to state that Obong Akanimo Udofia did not participate in or contest the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Primaries Election in Akwa Ibom State held on May 25, 2022,” he said.

According to Etim, the APC National Working Committee (NWC) granted Udofia’s application for a waiver to run in the APC governorship primary election in Akwa Ibom state on May 12, 2022, in accordance with Article 31(3) (ii) of the APC Constitution as amended.

He emphasized that anyone who claims that he is not an APC member is lying.

“By denying him the rights and privileges available to him as a member of a political party, the All Progressives Congress, this judgment is a gross violation and infringement of Akan Udofia’s constitutional right to freedom of association under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution,” Etim stated.

“We have great faith in our judiciary and will immediately file an appeal to reclaim the mandate freely conferred on him by members of our great party.”

To clear the air, he stated that Udofia was an APC member with his full name and details duly registered in his Ward.

Udofia, according to Etim, was undeterred and was confident that he would be on the ballot as the APC’s governorship candidate and would win the 2023 election with popular support.

He stated that the clarification was necessary to disabuse members of the public, particularly Akwa Ibom State residents, who might be led to believe that Udofia was ineligible to run in the elections.