The Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) has rejected the All
Progressives Congress (APC) primaries
that produce Godswill Akpabio as the
winner of Akwa Ibom northwest
senatorial district.
Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa
Ibom State and minister of Niger Delta
affairs, contested the APC presidential
ticket alongside former Lagos State
governor Bola Tinubu, former
transportation minister Rotimi Amaechi,
vice president Yemi Osinbajo and other
aspirants.
The former Akwa Ibom governor,
however, stepped down and endorsed
Tinubu, the eventual
winner of the APC
presidential primary election held at
Eagles Square, Abuja.
Akpabio thereafter contested and won the
APC ticket for Akwa Ibom northwest
senatorial district but INEC said it does
not recognise the primary election.
The State APC Chairman Stephen
Ntukekpo said he was directed by the
party at the national level to carry out a
re-run over alleged infractions.
Akwa Ibom won the rerun senatorial
primary election with 478 votes, while
DIG Ekpo Udom (rtd), who won the first
primary, secured just three votes.
But the Resident Electoral Commissioner,
Akwa Ibom State, Mike Igini, said the
commission would only recognise the
winner of the primaries monitored by
INEC.
Igini, who spoke to Daily Trust in Uyo,
Akwa Ibom State capital, on Sunday,
denied the claim that the commission
monitored the re-run APC senatorial
primaries, where Akpabio emerged the
winner.
“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.
Igini also affirmed that the APC has no
governorship candidate in the state,
saying the governorship primary where
Akanimo Udofia emerged winner was not
monitored by INEC.
The Akwa Ibom State APC chapter has
been in litigation battles over its
leadership before the APC presidential
primary election. This prevented Akwa
Ibom State delegates from voting despite
Akpabio’s endorsement of Tinubu.