By Ben Ogbemudia
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division yesterday dismissed an appeal brought by the The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division yesterday dismissed an appeal brought by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the election of Stephen Ntukekpo as the chairman of the (APC) against the election of Stephen Ntukekpo as the chairman of the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the party.

Dismissing the appeal, the presiding judge, Haruna Tsamanni, nullified the appeal as a result of the withdrawal of the appellant (APC) from the case.

In the appeal filed by Senator John Udoedehe on March 28, 2022, he claimed to be the National Secretary of the APC/CECPC and also sought a stay of execution of the orders of the court.

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The motion for stay has not been heard as parties are still exchanging processes.

In his reaction to the appeal, Ntukekpo had challenged Udoedehe’s capacity to maintain the appeal filed on March 28, 2022, as national secretary of the APC/CECPC having a left office on March 26, 2022. He argued that Udoedehe’s name is struck out of the appeal for lack of locus standi.

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He argued further that Udoedehe cannot initiate and maintain any appeal as national secretary of the defunct CPC, or in his capacity, just as Comrade Adams Oshiomhole couldn’t initiate or maintain any action in the name of the national chairman of APC.

Yesterday, the APC (the main appellant) withdrew its appeal against the validly elected chairman of APC in Akwa Ibom State, Ntukekpo, and the same was dismissed despite frantic arguments put up by Solomon Umoh, a senior advocate, who later conceded to the withdrawal.