By Emeka Samuel
Former Deputy of Akwa Ibom state, Engr. Chris Ekpenyong has said that he remained unperturbed even as defeated Senator Godswill Akpabio has dragged him to the election tribunal.
Ekpeyong who defeated Senator Godswill Akpabio in the race for the Ikot Ekpene (Akwa Ibom Noth-West) Senatorial District, has already been served a copy of the petition to appear before the election petition tribunal.
Receiving the summon from the tribunal’s secretary yesterday in Uyo, the former Deputy Governor, said that “Akpabio was only embarking on a futile journey to change the course already designed by God”.
He told his supporters to “remain calm as your mandate has been rescued by the divine arrangement for peace, development and even spread of the dividends of democracy to thrive”.
“You should not be afraid of Akpabio, your mandate is secured in me. The God that allowed your votes to be counted will stand by us to get justice at the tribunal and in various courts. We are ready to defend the will of the people of Ikot Ekpene at all times”
Akpabio, who currently represents Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District (Akwa Ibom North-West) at the Red Chamber, has taken his petition to the state elections petition tribunal.
Counsel to Akpabio, Mr. Sunday Ameh (SAN), filed the petition on behalf of the embattled Senator on March 16, 2019.
Ameh, had penultimate week withdrawn the earlier suit filed at Apo District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja high court, seeking the invocation of an order of mandamus, ordering INEC to review the results of the poll in his Senatorial District due to improper process.
Akpabio, former Senate Minority Leader, according to a statement by his Media Aide, Comrade Anietie Ekong, is seeking to upturn the outcome of the February 23 National Assembly poll, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had declared former Deputy Governor, Dr. Chris Ekpenyong, winner.
In announcing the winner, the Returning Officer (RO), Dr. Nsikak Senam of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) Department of Communication Art, said Ekpenyong polled 118, 215 votes as against Akpabio’s over 83,158.
But Akpabio faulted the results, claiming, however, that “incontrovertible result sheets from INEC office showed different figures that I secured 138, 256 votes over Ekpenyong’s 123,843”.
He alleged that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), who superintended over the exercise colluded with the PDP to pre-determine the outcome in favour of Ekpenyong.
However, the former Deputy Governor, who had last Thursday obtained Certificate of Return (CoR) from INEC in Abuja, maintained he won the poll through a free, fair and credible process and urged Akpabio to accept defeat in good faith.
His counsels, he said, would be at the tribunal to disproof all the allegations that would give the clean bill to effectively discharge his legislative responsibilities at the Red Chamber.
Working with other federal lawmakers, Ekpenyong said his immediate task would be “to ensure Nigeria works again by allying with the Executive and other arms to address challenges of fixing the country”.
