The Supreme Court of Nigeria has upheld Umo Eno as the duly elected governor of Akwa Ibom State.
A five-member panel, presided over by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, dismissed three separate appeals filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Akanimo Udofia; Young Progressives Party (YPP) and its candidate, Albert Bassey; as well as the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and its candidate, John Udoedehe.
The lead counsel for the respective parties withdrew their appeals after the Supreme Court indicated that they lacked merit.
The appellants, including APC, YPP, and NNPP candidates, had made various allegations against Governor Eno, one of which was the claim that he forged his secondary school certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
During the court proceedings, the justices questioned whether the appellants presented officials from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to testify on the authenticity of the certificate.
In a previous ruling in September, the tribunal had affirmed Umo Eno’s election, dismissing all appeals brought by the three other candidates.
The Court of Appeal in Lagos, led by Justice Festus Obande, subsequently upheld the decision of the lower tribunal, declaring that all three appeals lacked merit.
