The initial winner of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senatorial seat in the Akwa ibom North West District on May 28th 2022 Chief Ekperikpe Ekpo has described as self-deceit claims by Mr. Udom Ekpoudom that he(Ekpo) lost woefully during the primaries held at Ikot Ekpene township stadium.
Ekpo who spoke with journalists yesterday said it was misleading for Ekpoudom who scored 12 votes against 427 votes he scored in the said primaries to go about making ridiculous remarks in the public space that he won the election.
The former NASS member however maintained that former Niger Delta Minister Senator Godswill Akpabio remained the Ikot Ekpene senatorial district flag bearer of the APC.
Explaining the eventual emergence of Akpabio Ekpo highlighted thag,”I emerged winner of that Senatorial race with 427 votes as against DIG Udom Ekpoudom who scored 12 votes before the call for a Re-Conduct by NWC of our party at the instance of police report citing some infractions at the venue of the initial primary.
“I Rt. Hon. Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo stood down from the race during the re-conduct of Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial primary on June 9 2022 in reverence to our grand political leader Senator Akpabio who contested and won. I have since congratulated him on his victory, while urging all eligible voters to vote for him at the poll come February, 2023.
‘The days of parallel primaries are gone. It is old tactics employed by unpopular aspirants to seek notice, and may be called for negotiations and compensation. We should all be guided.”
Also speaking on the raging matter, a chieftain of APC in Akwa ibom state Mr Mfon Patrick explained that It is the sole prerogative of the National Working Committee of the party APC to constitute and inaugurate Primaries Elections Committees and not aspirants or state party chairmen as ochestrated in the Ekpoudom privately organized primary election
“The situation in Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District is one so obvious to public knowledge but some political magicians are trying everything possible to paint a false narrative and raise a dust otherwise to blind the innocent public of the truth and perhaps to cause public disorder too.
“These people behind the conjure of imaginary primary are familiar with corrupt practices as being witnessed by their current action and inaction to defraud the people of Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District of their legitimate right to settle for their choice.
On the claims by Ekpoudom that he won the primary election for Kijot Ekpene senatorial district Patrick stated that,”Ekperikpe, having been declared winner of the said election, it was discovered that one of his fellow contestants, DIG Udom Udo Ekpoudom had played some secret script prior to the day of Primary election. A script intended to mar the legitimate process by causing confusion and trouble across the senatorial districts.
“Ekpoudom, who lost to Obongemem Ekperikpe, had stage managed an election on the 27th May, 2022 as against the APC National Working Committee approved date for National Assembly elections across Nigeria being 28th May, 2022. Ekpoudom, has been seen to foment trouble throwing spanner in the works to cause public disorder amongst the peace-loving people of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.
“The people have resisted. They will stop at nothing to resist a broad day light fraud as Ekpoudom only plays to the gallery.DIG Ekpo Udom, has been running to the market square with false narrative. Udom, who illegally brought in his friends to supervised his dummy election on May 27th, 2022 has been crying fowl.
“I dare Udom, to publish names of the list of delegates approved for the said primary he conducted with his friends Mr. Item Uwem Eyo (Abak) and Mr. Ebong Umanah as Chairman and Secretary respectively who endorsed his fake result at the fake venue Primary School Urban No. 1. Ikot Ekpene.
“As a party man who believes in justice, I took my time to sleuth over the entire process which culminated in my laying hands on the real list of the election panel approved by the party National Secretariat.”
