On 20 January, a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled in favour of factional PDP nominee Michael Enyong and ordered INEC to declare him as the legitimate nominee; while the PDP publicly rejected the ruling, reporting revealed underlying fear that INEC may actually switch recognition to Enyong. Amid the controversy, the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists organized a debate on 29 January 2023 and invited Akpan, Essien Ekere Sunday (ADP), Robert Otu Iboro (AAC), Ezekiel Nya-Etok (ADC), and Udo-Edehe along with Udofia to participate; however, both Eno and Udofia withdrew on the day of the debate. Both the PDP and APC legal battles concluded in the following weeks, with an Appeal Court judgment siding with Eno while the Supreme Court ordered INEC to recognize Udofia in early March.
