Court of Appeal sacks 4 legislators

yinka ogunlami

December 24, 2015 2:12 PM

The Court of Appeal has sacked 4 members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, while a fifth legislator is also on the brink losing his seat.

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The affected lawmakers inlcude: the former Speaker, Anieakn Uko, the former Deputy Speaker, Effiong Okon Bassey, the member representing Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara State Constituency, Idongesit Ntekpere and the erstwhile member representing Etinan state constituency, Aniefiok Dennis.

Mr. Monday Eyo, the member representing Uyo State Constituency, would be going back to the polls as the court ordered fresh elections in 29 polling units. But he is to remain a member of the house until the polls are completed.

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About rumours that the former deputy speaker, Effiong Bassey, representing Oron/Udung Uko State constituency, was sacked; Ime Okon the spokesman of the House said it was a case of a rerun. Effiong Bassey was to remain in the house until the outcome of the rerun.

“The court cannot give you what you never asked for. All the petitioners wanted a rerun claiming that the elections were substantially flawed. So, it is a case of complete cancellation just like the three others. But the member for Uyo will re-contest election only in 29 polling units in his local government,” Okon said.

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Many Nigerians have expressed concern over the high rate of election annulment by the courts. They claimed that the annulments question the credibility of our electoral system.

yinka ogunlami