A Nigerian appeal court annulled the election of Udom Emmanuel of southern oil-rich Akwa Ibom state, the second governor from ex-president Goodluck Jonathan’s party to be removed this week.
The Abuja appeal court overturned an earlier ruling of an election tribunal which upheld the victory of Emmanuel, the candidate of Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the April 11 vote.
The court said the tribunal erred by rejecting the complaints of Umana Okon Umana of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the election was marred with irregularities in 18 of the 31 local government areas of the state.
The court ordered the electoral body INEC to conduct fresh poll in the oil-rich state within 90 days.
Emmanuel became the second PDP governor to be sacked this week by the court.
On Wednesday, the appeal court removed Governor Nyesom Wike of oil-rich Rivers state and ordered a re-run within 90 days, but he vowed to seek redress in the Supreme Court, the country’s highest court.
The ruling followed complaints by APC candidate Dakuku Peterside that the vote was fraught with violence and irregularities.
