Akpabio not recognised as Akwa Ibom APC Senatorial Candidate – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it does not recognize Godswill Akpabio’s victory as the APC Senatorial Candidate for Akwa Ibom north-west.

Akpabio, former minister of Niger Delta affairs, had contested for the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but stepped down for Bola Tinubu.

Prior to this, on May 27, Udom Ekpoudom, a former deputy inspector-general of police (DIG), had won a primary organized for the Akwa Ibom north-west senatorial ticket. A re-run election was however conducted on June 7 that saw Akpabio declared winner

Speaking on the development with TheCable on Sunday, Mike Igini, resident electoral commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom, stated that INEC officials did not monitor any primary outside the one conducted on May 27.

“Senatorial primary was conducted on the 27th of last month. Was he an aspirant on that day? The answer is no. And the report of that day has been written since,” he said.

“That event has taken place and concluded before the presidential thing came up. He’s the one people should be asking questions if he participated in that primary. INEC is not involved in the conduct of party primaries. We are just an observer.”