The hope of Senator Godswill Akpabio returning to the Nigerian Senate for the second time in 2023 appears to have been dashed.
This followed the rejection by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary for Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District, which produced Akpabio as the party’s candidate.
Stephen Ntukekpo, who is the State APC Chairman, had said he was directed by the party at the national level to carry out a re-run over alleged infractions.
According to the result of the rerun senatorial primary election, Akpabio emerged the winner with 478 votes, while DIG Ekpo Udom (rtd), who won the first primary, secured just three votes.
However, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Akwa Ibom State, Mr Mike Igini, said in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, on Sunday, that the commission would only recognise the winner of the primaries monitored by INEC.
He denied the claim that the commission monitored the re-run APC senatorial primaries, where Akpabio emerged the winner.
“The primaries was concluded on the 27th of last month, so I don’t know what you are talking about. The one that was conducted was monitored by INEC and the report has been submitted to Abuja.
“INEC is not aware of any senatorial primaries conducted on Thursday (June 9) that was monitored by INEC, none,” he stated.
The REC also affirmed that the APC has no governorship candidate in the state, saying the governorship primary where Akanimo Udofia emerged the winner was not monitored by INEC.
Akpabio, who is the immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs was among those who last week stepped down for the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. (Daily Trust)
