Reps candidate drags INEC, APC, to court over substitution

In the dispute is the ticket for Ikononi Federal Constituency, which was allegedly won by Engr. Silvanus Nyauko, who was said to have been duly certified by the party, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders to contest for the position.Nyauko took the matter to the Federal High Court, Uyo, seeking redress from […]

In the dispute is the ticket for Ikononi Federal Constituency, which was allegedly won by Engr. Silvanus Nyauko, who was said to have been duly certified by the party, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders to contest for the position.
Nyauko took the matter to the Federal High Court, Uyo, seeking redress from the court.
But when the case came up for hearing yesterday, Mr. Mfon Uyoh adjourned the matter to March 16, to enable the defendants to be properly served.
Uyoh explained that deferring the case to March 16 would enable all concerned, including INEC, APC, all based in Abuja and Mr. Ime Akpan, whose name is currently on INEC list as the candidate, to be put on notice before the new date.
However, Nyauko told our correspondent in Uyo that having won the primary, he was in the process of restructuring his campaign machinery in preparation for the elections when INEC came up with another name to replace his as the party’s candidate.
He said: “I am surprised; everyone is surprised that someone who contested the primary and won could be replaced just like that by INEC,” adding that the person whose name appeared on the INEC list as the candidate was not even qualified by the electoral guidelines to contest.
“After the primary, which I won unopposed, INEC recognised me and presented all the forms for me to fill and return, only to discover that my name has been replaced with someone who did not even stand for the nomination,” he alleged.
He explained that it became imperative to seek redress by following the due process of law as a law-abiding citizen of the country.