Former Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Prince Udom Ekpoudom, has expressed dismay over the names submitted by the leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its candidates for the 2023 senatorial election.
The candidates include Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom North West), Dr. Emaeyak Ukpong (North East and Martins Udo-Inyang (for Akwa Ibom South) senatorial districts.
But the name of the former police chief was missing from the list, having been substituted with that of Akpabio, the immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Mike Igini, had declared the primaries that threw up Akpabio was null and void, and not recognized by the commission.
Nonetheless, a former Deputy Speaker, Dr. Uwem Udoma, who is the Director General of DIG Udom Senatorial Campaign Organisation, advised the supporters to remain calm despite the political twist.
He said: “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 INEC would do the right thing, as “Ekpoudom’s name shall lawfully be on the ballot for the 2023 general election.”
But the media and publicity directorate of Akpabio Senatorial Campaign Organisation urged the retired police officer to accept the verdict, if he has the interest of the party at heart, and join hands to ensure the victory of the party at 2023 polls.
Akpabio’s mouth piece expressed shock at what it described as the “consistent defiance of DIG Udom Ekpoudom (rtd) to court order and decision of the leadership of APC in the face of the hollow claim.”
It explained that the Stephen Ntukekpo-led State Executive was the one recognised by the party, adding that all authorisation pertaining to congress should have emanated from him and his executive, “otherwise, the outcome would be deemed to be illegal, illegitimate and mere bogus claim.”