November 10, (THEWILL) – There is palpable tension in Akwa Ibom state, as the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, is set to deliver judgement in the alleged forgery case against the Gubernatorial candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Pastor Umo Eno.
One of the aspirants in the May 25, 2022, PDP governorship primary, Mr Akan Okon, a former Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport, had immediately after the primary, which he emerged second runner up, approached the Court in suit number FHC/UY/CS/110/2022, seeking the disqualification of Eno, for being ineligible to contest the poll.
The major particulars of the case, which is about to be determined by the presiding Judge, Justice Agatha Okeke, on Friday, Nov. 11, Tribune gathered, bothers on allegations of multiple forgeries of the West African School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, discrepancies in places, dates of birth, as well as the issues surrounding the authenticity of his Permanent Voter Card (PVC).
The matter was originally slated for determination on November 28, but had to be shifted forward to November 11, in order to dispose all pre-election cases in good time for the polls proper.
However, Governor Udom Emmanuel, who announced Eno as his preferred successor in January 2022, is said to be running around with other party stakeholders, in frantic last ditch efforts to save his candidate from being booted out of the governorship race for any reason.
Opposition political parties in the state have taken due advantage of the alleged forgery case, lampooning Eno, the PDP and Governor Emmanuel, faulting the Governor’s integrity and claim to excellence in the unfolding allegation in the case of multiple forgery.
Campaigning across the State, the Young Progressives Party, YPP, in one of its campaign songs, challenged Umo Eno to bring his credentials if he wants to be governor.
However, the opposition parties are also said to be banking on the governor to pull through with Umo Eno’s case so that they can drag Eno back to Court after the election.
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