The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Thursday dismissed a petition brought by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the State, Akanimo Udofia, challenging the election of Pastor Umo Eno of the Peoples Democratic Party as winner of the March 18,2023 elections.

Udofia sought the disqualification of Pastor Eno’s election on the grounds that he presented forged documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and also did not score the highest number of valid votes in the March 18, 2023 Governorship elections.

Udofia also accused the 2nd respondent of being convicted by an Abuja Magistrate Court, hence not qualified to be fielded for elections.

But in favour of Governor Umo Eno, the 2nd Respondent, the Tribunal in its unanimous decision, ruled that the allegations of substantial noncompliance with the electoral law in the conduct of the elections, was not sufficiently proven by the petitioners in their case.The Justice Adekunle Adeleye led panel also ruled that the magistrate court, in its judgment, nullified its earlier conviction of Pastor Umo Eno and that once a judgement is nullified it ceases to exist.