Akpabio wins APC senate ticket, after stepping down for Tinubu at presidential convention

The immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, has won the senatorial ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Akpabio has clinched the ticket for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial district.

Recall that Akpabio stepped down for the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the just concluded presidential primary election of the ruling party.

The former Governor of Akwa-Ibom State became victorious with 478 votes.

While addressing the people, on Thursday night, shortly after the re-run primary which took place at the Godswill Akpabio Empowerment Centre in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, Akpabio appreciated the people for considering him worthy.

“I thank the Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district for finding me worthy to be given another opportunity to represent you in the Nigerian Senate. I recall when you gave me the first mandate in 2015 to 2019, I recall that there is no Senator ever that did the kind of empowerment I did for you.

“I know a lot of projects were done across the ten local government areas, from markets to water projects, to electrification project, to building of classroom blocks,” he stated.

The Chairman of the party in the state, Mr Stephen Ntukekpo, who had spoken earlier, said the national leadership of the party has ordered him to conduct the re-run, and said the re-run was as a result of infractions in the first primary.

“There was some infractions in the primaries held about a week ago and I was directed by the National Working Committee to carry out a re-run.

“We have about five aspirants in this exercise. They were all informed and are fully aware. The aspirants are Sir Joseph Akpan, DIG Ekpo Udom, Obong Emem Ekperikpe Ekpo, and Senator Godswill Akpabio,” he said.

Report has it that other aspirants were absent at the voting exercise, one of them, Obong Emem Ekperikpe Ekpo declared that he was stepping down for Akpabio.

He said, “The first primary took place on May 28th and all of you were there. Today, our Father has joined the race. I, Obong Emem Ekperikpe Ekpo, former member of the House of Representatives, a son of this senatorial district, I plead with all my delegates to identify with our father, and I return all the delegates to vote for him.

“I don’t think we should do anything to undermine the person God has given to us as a leader. The person is Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio. I call all my delegates once again to support him. With that, I have withdrawn my aspiration to the Senatorial seat.”