The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected Godswill Akpabio as candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District candidate in next year’s general elections.
INEC faulted the primary election that produced the former Akwa Ibom governor and immediate past Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs.
Akpabio stepped down for the National Leader of the APC, Aswaju Bola Tinubu, during the party’s presidential primaries held at Eagle square last Monday.
But Akpabio was declared winner of the APC senatorial primary for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District on Thursday, three days after the presidential primary.
The Akwa Ibom State APC Chairman, Stephen Ntukekpo, had said he was directed by the ruling party’s national body to conduct a re-run over alleged infractions.
Results from the fresh primary indicated that Akapbio emerged winner with 478 votes, while DIG Ekpo Udom (rtd), who won the first primary, secured just three votes.
But the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Mike Igini, said that INEC would only recognize the winner of the primaries monitored by its officials.
He said that INEC did not monitor the re-run APC senatorial primary, which purportedly produced Akpabio as winner.
“The primaries were concluded on the 27 of May, 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.
The REC also affirmed that the APC has no governorship candidate in the state.