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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday
ruled that Godswill Akpabio, governor of Akwa Ibom state is the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the April general
election.

Presiding Judge, Abdu Kafarati, delivering
judgement in the suit filed by a PDP aspirant, Frank Okon praying the
court for an order to stop the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) from recognising Mr Akpabio as the party’s candidate,
said the evidence brought by the plaintiff to argue his case were mere
assertions.

Mr Kafarati subsequently struck out the suit for
lacking in merit and ordered that Mr. Akpabio be recognised by the
electoral body as the authentic governorship candidate of PDP in Akwa
Ibom state in the April polls. “The suit was more of an academic
exercise, but since the court has been approached, the door will not be
shut against the plaintiff but rather the court will look at the merit
of his case and having looked at the merit, it is of my view that the
suit lacks merit, on this ground I strike out the case”.

The plaintiff had, earlier through his counsel,
Andem Ndem dragged INEC, the PDP and Mr Akpabio to court, seeking an
order of interlocutory injunction restraining PDP from transmitting the
name of Mr Akpabio to INEC based on the result of the governorship
primaries held on January 9, 2011. Counsel to the PDP, Olusola Oke,
brought a preliminary objection praying the court for an order striking
out the suit on grounds that the party had internally redressed the
wrong for which the plaintiff came to court. Mr Oke informed the court
that the plaintiff had earlier petitioned the party over the January 9,
2011 primary election and the party had reacted to the petition by
cancelling the initial election and conducting a re-run, which Mr
Akpabio also won.