INEC Makes Final Decision on Godswill Akpabio's Senatorial Candidacy Public
- Senator Godswill Akpabio has lost out on his ambition to get back into the Senate in the upcoming 2023 general election
- Nigeria's electoral body has said that the Akwa Ibom northwest senatorial ticket for the All Progressives Congress (APC) cannot be reopened
- According to the commission, the primary election which produced a former deputy inspector-general of Police, Udum Ekpoudum (retired.) is final
The Independent National Electoral Commission has said that its report on the Akwa Ibom northwest senatorial ticket is final.
The Punch reports that the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, Mike Igini said that the senatorial ticket for the district cannot be reopened again.
Source: UGC
He also said that the former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has nothing to do about it.
Akpabio, who was a former governor in Akwa Ibom state had emerged the winner of the primary election conducted by the All Progressives Congress in Ikot Ekpene.
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The ex-governor polled 478 votes out of 512 accredited delegates for the election.
However, INEC has said that the primary that led to the emergence of Akpabio is strange to the commission and unknown to any law.
Igini during an interview on Comfort FM confirmed that the May 27, primary, which produced a former deputy inspector-general of Police, Udum Ekpoudum (retired.) subsists.
According to Igini, the said primary was neither cancelled nor rendered inconclusive.
A bunch of Nollywood fantasy
Further describing Akpabio's emergence as nothing but a “Nollywood fantasy", Igini added that what he knew about Akpabio was that he was the presidential aspirant for the APC who stepped down for Bola Tinubu at the presidential primary of the party.
His words:
“By virtue of Section 31 of the 2022 Electoral Act, the only way somebody can be replaced in any form is that we no longer have substitution by political party. What you have now is withdrawal by individual or nominee and or death."
“The law is not saying you should go and kill people so that you can have yourself on the ballot. No. The law is saying that those who have emerged at all levels up to the presidential level, you can decide that you are no longer interested."
"You can write an application signed by yourself, delivered to your party who will now deliver to INEC, but nobody can shave the political head of another person in his or her absence."
Senator Godswill Akpabio wins APC Akwa Ibom northwest senatorial ticket
Senator Godswill Akpabio had emerged the winner of Akwa Ibom northwest senatorial district on the platform of the APC.
Of the total 540 delegates and 512 accredited, the former Akwa Ibom governor got 478 votes to emerge the winner of the contest.
Akpabio had on Monday, June 6 collapsed his structure to support Ahmed Bola Tinubu who emerged as the presidential Flag-bearer of the party.
Hours to commencement of primary, powerful APC chieftain dumps party
The former national scribe of the APC's defunct CECPC, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, is no more a member of the party.
Senator Akpanudoedehe tendered his resignation letter to the leadership of the party in Akwa Ibom on Monday, June 6.
Although Akpanudoedehe mentioned foul play in the election of candidates in his state, he vowed to continue his service to the people of the state.
Source: Legit.ng
