Ekpoudom Frowns at Omission of name as Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial Candidate
Prince Udom Ekpoudom, a former Deputy Inspector General of Police, has expressed his displeasure with the names of the three All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to fly the party’s flag in the state of Akwa Ibom.
The candidates include Senator Godswill Akpabio, Dr Emaeyak Ukpong and Martins Udo-Inyang for Akwa Ibom North West, North East and South senatorial districts, respectively.
However, the name of the former police chief was replaced on the list with that of Akpabio, the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
Mr Mike Igini, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, pronounced the primaries in which Akpabio was elected null and illegal, as well as unknown to the commission.
Dr Uwem Udoma, Director General of DIG Udom Senatorial Campaign Organisation and former deputy speaker asked supporters to be calm despite the political twist.
According to him, “INEC had publicly acknowledged that it never monitored primary that allegedly produced Senator Akpabio after he lost the APC presidential primaries. In view of the fact that the senatorial primary for Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial district lawfully held on May 27, 2022, where Ekpoudom emerged the winner and was at no time cancelled, nullified or declared inconclusive to warrant a rescheduled election.”
Udoma expressed hope that the national umpire would do the right thing, as “Ekpoudom’s name shall lawfully be on the ballot for 2023 general election.”
The media and publicity department of the Akpabio Senatorial Campaign Organisation, on the other hand, was quick to call on the retired police officer to accept the judgement if he truly cared about the party’s success in the next elections.
The statement expressed shock at what it described as the “consistent defiance of DIG Udom Ekpoudom (retd) to the court order and decision of the leadership of APC in the face of the hollow claim.”
It stated that the state executive led by Stephen Ntukekpo was the one recognised by the party and that all congress authorisations should have come from him and his executive, “otherwise, the outcome would be deemed illegal, illegitimate and mere bogus claim.”
Meanwhile, a primary election conducted on May 27, 2022, by a faction of the APC in the state at the Government Primary School Ikot Ekpene, had declared Ekpoudom winner of the Akwa Ibom Northwest Senatorial ticket.
Also, after surrendering his presidential bid, Akpabio last Thursday, during a re-run primary held by his faction, had also emerged winner of the same APC Senatorial ticket.
