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A former minister of Petroleum and a BoT member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Don Etiebet, has rejected the candidacy of Godswill Akpabio for the 2023 senatorial election in Akwa Ibom North-West District.
Mr Etiebet, who’s from the Akwa Ibom North-West District, mentioned this shortly after the Friday’s judgment by the Supreme Courtroom, which affirmed Mr Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, because the genuine APC candidate for the election within the district.
Mr Etiebet mentioned the federal constituency which Mr Akpabio is from within the district has produced a senator “a number of instances”, and that it’s the flip of one other federal constituency which has produced none earlier than.
The Akwa Ibom North-West District contains 10 native authorities areas that are grouped underneath 4 federal constituencies – Ikot Ekpene; Ikono/Ini; Ukanafun/Oruk Anam; and Abak.
The final two federal constituencies, often lumped collectively in political discourse, are popularly known as Abak-5.
Mr Akpabio’s Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency has produced a senator 5 instances, from 1963 until date, and that features Mr Akpabio’s election as senator in 2015.
Christopher Ekpenyong, the present senator representing the district, is from Mr Akpabio’s constituency.
Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency has produced a senator twice, whereas Ukanafun/Oruk Anam has produced a senator thrice.
The Abak Federal Constituency is the one constituency within the district that’s but to supply a senator.
Mr Etiebet says the political leaders within the district respect, however don’t settle for, the Supreme Courtroom judgment on Mr Akpabio due to fairness and equity.
“We from the senatorial district have since resolved that it’s the flip of Abak-5 Zone of the District and particularly, the Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency to supply the senator this time round since all the opposite three federal constituencies within the senatorial district have produced senators a number of instances,” mentioned Mr Etiebet who’s a revered APC chief in Akwa Ibom.
The previous minister’s comment is revealed on Fb by a chieftain of the APC and a newspaper writer, Uduakabasi Ikpat.
Mr Etiebet mentioned it was for the aim of attaining fairness and equity that the APC members within the district “elected” a former deputy inspector common of police, Udom Ekpoudom, who’s from the Abak Federal Constituency, because the social gathering candidate for the senatorial election.
The Courtroom of Enchantment had dominated in favour of Mr Ekpoudom earlier than the judgment was overturned by the Supreme Courtroom in Mr Akpabio’s favour.
“Senator Godswill Akpabio didn’t take part in that senatorial major monitored by INEC however having failed in his presidential bid he was pursuing on the time of the senatorial major, he rushed again at a later date to have a nocturnal major not monitored by INEC to declare himself because the senatorial candidate.
Mr Etiebet mentioned Mr Akpabio would have given an opportunity to the Abak Federal Constituency to supply the following senator if he had “any feeling of comradeship, brotherliness and love for others”.
READ ALSO: Akpabio brings down allies to realize political dominance – Ex-associate
The previous minister mentioned political leaders within the district have resolved to assist “any candidate” from Abak Federal Constituency for the senatorial election.
It’s unclear, nevertheless, if the APC leaders within the district will throw their weight behind the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Occasion (PDP), Emmanuel Enoidem, who’s from the Abak Federal Constituency.
Senator Akpabio reacts
Mr Akpabio’s marketing campaign organisation mentioned Mr Etiebet’s comment signifies that he intends to assist Mr Enoidem within the senatorial election.
In an announcement issued on Saturday by its spokesperson, Joe Iniodu, the marketing campaign mentioned, “It’s unusual that whereas PDP jettisons zoning on the nationwide stage, it orchestrates it with missionary zealotry in Abak/Etim-Ekpo/lka Federal Constituency.”
Mr Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom, was elected senator in 2015 underneath the PDP. He later defected to the APC in 2018, the place he contested for a second time period in 2019 however was defeated by the PDP candidate, Mr Ekpenyong, who’s a former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom.
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