Akpabio emerges senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North West

The immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday, emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North West.

At the senatorial primaries held at the Skill Acquisition Centre, Ikot in Akwa Ibom State, Akpabio polled 478 votes to defeat Retired DIG, Udom Ekpo Udom, who polled 03 votes, while Engineer Joseph Akpan came third with 01 vote.

The former minister had vied for the presidential ticket of the ruling party but stepped down for the eventual winner, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, at the primaries held in Abuja.

Speaking at the venue of senatorial primaries on Thursday, the APC chairman in Akwa Ibom State, Obong Stephen Ntukekpo, told the party’s delegates that the fresh election was ordered by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party as a result of the cancellation of the last primaries which took place on May 28, 2022, due to security infractions by some hoodlums.

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Four aspirants were billed to take part in the rescheduled election as only a former member House of Representatives, Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo, withdrew from the race and and urged all his delegates to cast their votes for Sen. Akpabio, while two others slugged it out with the former minister at the primaries.

Announcing the result of the primaries witnessed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), police and other relevant agencies, the Returning Officer, Mrs Bunmi Imolehin, declared that the total registered delegates were 540 but only 512 delegates were accredited, while 11 votes were void votes.

In his acceptance speech, Akpabio, a two-term former governor of Akwa Ibom State, assured that his return to the Senate in 2023 would bring in more infrastructural development, human capital development and youth and women empowerment.

The Star