●Disqualify, annul her election – Partyman tells court
A waning hope has enveloped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abak local government area, as the Chairmanship Candidate, Mrs Ime Effiong Charles has been sued for allegedly submitting false documents to the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC).
In a dramatic twist of event, Uduak Sunday Leo, a chairmanship aspirant, on Thursday, October 3, filed a lawsuit seeking the disqualification of Mrs. Ime Effiong Charles.
The claimant alleges that Charles submitted false documents regarding her place of residence and voting unit, committing perjury in the process.
According to Leo, the PDP “cunningly refused to adopt either direct or indirect primary modes,” and none of the aspirants gave consent to the purported consensus adopted by the party.
The claimant also pointed out discrepancies in Charles’s nomination form (LG 006A) with Serial Number: 001247, dated August 15, 2024.
Specifically, Charles allegedly indicated her polling unit as “08 MIDIM II,” whereas INEC’s database revealed her actual polling unit to be “Adiaha Obong Secondary School, Offot II, Uyo LGA”.
Leo is seeking a declaration that Charles willfully and intentionally submitted false documents, committed perjury, and ought to be disqualified.
He also seeks an order of Court disqualifying the candidate, nullifying her sponsorship by the PDP, and a combined punitive damage of N100,000,000 for the losses occasioned by the claimant.
The lawsuit, with Suit No: HU/379/2024, relies on Section 19B (3), (4), and (5) of the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) Law, 2024 (as amended), and Section 84(1)-(11) of the 2022 Electoral Act, which is replicated in AKISIEC Law.
The claimant argues that the PDP failed to comply with the mandatory provisions of Section 84(9) and (11) of the 2022 Electoral Act.
This development has cast a shadow over the PDP’s chances in Abak, as the party faces allegations of falsification and perjury. The outcome of this lawsuit will be closely watched, as it may have significant implications for the October 5 polls.
