INEC Rejects Akpabio As APC Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial Candidate

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared that it does not recognize former Minister of the Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio as the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial district.

According to INEC, it will only recognize the candidate produced from the party primaries it monitored.

Truetells Nigeria recalls the former Minister of Niger Delta stepped down for the National Leader of the ruling party, Bola Tinubu in the just concluded presidential primary of the party.

Akpabio then went ahead to clinch the senatorial ticket after gathering 478 votes.

512 delegates were accredited for the primary, of which Joseph Akpan had one vote, DIG Ekpo Udom who initially won the first primary had three votes, while 11 votes were voided.

While explaining the reason for the fresh primaries, the State APC Chairman, Mr Stephen Ntukekpo, had said he was directed by the party at the national level to carry out a re-run over alleged infractions.

However, reacting to the development, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Akwa Ibom State, Mr Mike Igini said the electoral umpire would only recognise the winner of the primaries monitored by INEC.

According to him, the re-run APC senatorial primaries, where Akpabio emerged winner was not monitored by INEC.

“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 in a chat with Daily Trust.

Igini added in his submission that the APC has no governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State as the governorship primary where Mr Akanimo Udofia emerged winner was not monitored by INEC.