Appeal court sacks Akwa-Ibom House speaker

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday nullified the election of the Speaker of Akwa-Ibom House of Assembly, Mr Aniekan Uko, for non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act.

The appellate court panel of three judges presided over by Justice Moshood Oredola-Abdulrahman, ordered INEC to conduct fresh election in the state constituency – Ibesikpo-Asutan.

The court, which upheld the earlier decision of the Legislative House Election Petitions Tribunal for Akwa Ibom, said Uko of the PDP was not validly elected in the April 11 election.

It held that the election tribunal which sat in Abuja was right in nullifying the election of Uko on the basis of electoral violence and malpractices.

After the judgment, Uko said he accepted the decision of the court in good faith.

He said he would go back to the field to prepare for the re-run election.