Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Tag: Godswill Akpabio

  • 2023: Lawan, Akpabio Not Recognised as Senatorial Candidates – INEC

    2023: Lawan, Akpabio Not Recognised as Senatorial Candidates – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday denied doctoring and backdating documents to accommodate the nominations of Ahmad Lawan and Godswill Akpabio as senatorial candidates for the 2023 general elections.

    INEC also said it is yet to recognise “any of the two personalities as a Senatorial candidate.”

    Mr Lawan, who is the current Senate President and Mr Akpabio had both contested in the All Progressives Congress presidential primaries, which was won by Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Both have however chosen to pick up Senate tickets for Yobe North and Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial Districts respectively, sparking controversy over the legality of such a move since most Senate primaries had already been conducted before the presidential primaries.

    In a statement by the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Chairman Voter Education, Festus Okoye, the electoral body said, “For the records, the commission has not recognised any of the two personalities as a senatorial candidate. For the records, the commission has not recognised any of the two personalities as a Senatorial candidate.”

    Okoye used the opportunity to call for responsible reporting, decrying the “unwarranted attack on the Commission and its officials over a matter than can be easily fact-checked.”

    He debunked claims making the rounds online that INEC purportedly “doctored, backdated and certified documents” to favour Akpabio and Lawan.

    “For clarity, the Form EC9 (submission of names of candidates by political parties) is the form uploaded by parties on the INEC nomination portal. This is clearly indicated on the title of the form, which was received on June 17 2022 when the portal closed,” Okoye explained. “What follows is the publication of the personal particulars of nominated candidates, which was done a week later. The forms of the two personalities in question were not published by the commission.”

    According to him, INEC’s decision triggered legal action, which “are still ongoing.”

    “It, therefore, defies logic and common sense to go around and submit doctored documents purportedly recognising the duo as candidates when the matter is clearly sub-judice”, he added. “As part of the ongoing case in Court, a law firm requested the commission for a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Form EC9 submitted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) as its candidate for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, which we are duty bound to oblige them under the law.”

    He further disclosed that the form was certified on July 15.

  • 2023: Lawan, Akpabio, Umahi Missing As INEC Releases List Of Senatorial Candidates

    2023: Lawan, Akpabio, Umahi Missing As INEC Releases List Of Senatorial Candidates

    The Independent National Electoral Commission has released the list and particulars of candidates vying for various positions at the federal level in the 2023 general elections.

    Conspicuously missing were the names of Senate President Ahmad Lawan, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, and Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi.

    The trio had contested the presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress but may have been hoping to reclaim the APC senatorial seats after failing to win the top seat.

    Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, an INEC National Commissioner, Festus Okoye, said the commission is not obligated to publish the name of candidates that did not emerge from valid party primaries.

    “If a political party submits to the Independent National Electoral Commission the name of a candidate that did not emerge from party primaries or did not emerge from valid party primaries, the commission is not obligated to publish the name of such a candidate,” he said.

    However, Mr Okoye noted that INEC has not published the final list of validly nominated candidates.

    “The final list of validly nominated candidates will be published by the Independent National Electoral Commission on the 20th day of September, 2022. And that is for presidential and national assembly candidates.

    “What the Commission has published, as of today, complies with Section 29(3) of the electoral act which says that the moment political parties comply with the provision of Section 29 (1) of the electoral act in terms of the submission of its validly nominated candidates, that the Commission shall publish the personal particulars of such candidates in the constituencies where the candidates intend to contest election.

    “In other words, for instance for a senatorial candidate, if a senatorial district covers four local governments, we will publish the personal particulars of such a candidate in the four local governments.

    “So that is exactly what we have done. And we published the personal particulrs of candidates that emerged from valid party primaries. And that’s what the law says we should do.

    “So, if the name of any candidate was not published, or if the personal particulars of any candidate was not published today, the implication is that such a candidate did not emerge from valid party primaries.”

  • 2023 Senatorial Primary: INEC Not Aware of Akpabio’s emergence – says REC

    2023 Senatorial Primary: INEC Not Aware of Akpabio’s emergence – says REC

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Mike Igini, has said that the Independent National Electoral Commission in the state is not aware of the June 9 re-run primary that led to the emergence of Senator Godswill Akpabio as the All Progressives Congress flagbearer for Akwa Ibom North-West (Ikot Ekpene) senatorial district of the state.

    This was coming shortly after he (Igini) had written to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, stating that there was no APC governorship candidate for Akwa Ibom State.

    Reports on Sunday gathered that a former Deputy Inspector-General of Police and senatorial candidate of the APC for Akwa Ibom North-West, Mr. Udom Ekpoudom, had said that he would not relinquish his ticket to Akpabio, no matter the pressure.

    The Stephen Ntukekpo-led chairman of the party had, while citing security infractions in the May 27, 2022, APC primary in the district, claimed he was directed to conduct a re-run primary by the national headquarters of the party on June 9, 2022

    During the midnight re-run primary which was held at the Ikot Ekpene Empowerment Centre, the former minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Akpabio and former Governor of Akwa Ibom State emerged the winner, having scored a total of 478 votes out of 512 accredited delegates, while DIG Ekpoudom (retd), who won the first primary, secured just three votes.

    But Igini while fielding questions from journalists on Sunday, on the re-run primary, has said that the commission is not aware of the emergence of Senator Akpabio as the APC standard flagbearer for the district and therefore does not recognise his ticket.

    “The primary was concluded May 27, 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 primary conducted on Thursday (June 9) that was monitored by INEC, none,” Igini was quoted to have said.

  • Group wants Akpabio, Udoedehe expelled from APC

    Group wants Akpabio, Udoedehe expelled from APC

    By Odo Ogenyi,Uyo

    A group under the aegis of Movement for Better Nigeria (MBN) has called on the National Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC) Abdullahi Adamu to expel Senators Godswill Akpabio and John Akpan-Udoedehe from the party in Akwa Ibom for bringing division into the party .

    Addressing a press conference in Uyo on Tuesday, spokesman of the group Dr. Paul Dowell said the duo of Akpabio and Udoedehe have always taken the party backwards because of their personal interests.

    The group insisted that the two gladiators have caused downfall of APC in AKwa Ibom state from 2011 to 2019 adding that the party would not fold her arms to see these personalities cause the party to lose the next general elections.

    The group spokesman said the duo have grounded APC in the state because of their personal and selfish interest and can not accept such disposition in 2023.

    “What we have been suffering in this state, since 2011 is ownership and entitlement mentality of a member who feels that without him there is No APC in Akwa Ibom, that is why we have remained down politically in the state.

    “In 2015 that same person came again claiming to be the owner of APC when the likes of Comrade David Ekanem, Late Idongesit Udoekpo, Late Steve Ibanga and others who went to his house and lobbied him to leave PDP and join APC did not claim ownership. That same fight began and APC lost the election.

    “We will no longer fold our arms and watch these people take us back to the dark days. It is said that when two elephants fight, the grass suffers. In this case, APC in Akwa Ibom suffers the fight between the two persons in the party which has led to the polarisation of the party.

    “Though Akpabio was compensated with the office of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, taking the glory of other people who worked tirelessly for the party while Udoedehe became the National Secretary.” He said.

    He however recalled that ambushing of APC governorship primaries materials from Airport to where there shootings along Oron road in uyo city was a manifestation of the two factions working for themselves instead of the party in the state.

    “The ambush of national officers from the Obong Victor Attah’s International airport, the sporadic shooting and the fracas between the two groups were indicators that peace is still far from the two groups in the party.” Dowell said.

    He also made a case for the election of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the forthcoming APC national convention saying he has the experience, integrity and intellect to reposition the country.

  • 2023: I Will Continue To Fight Corruption Like Buhari – Akpabio

    2023: I Will Continue To Fight Corruption Like Buhari – Akpabio

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday, said he will continue to fight corruption like President Muhammadu Buhari if elected as President in 2023.

    Although the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is yet to conduct its presidential primary to pick its flagbearer, Akpabio is one of the presidential aspirants under the party.

    Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the minister praised the current administration’s anti-graft war, saying that corruption must be fought so that poverty will not kill the masses.

    “We must continue the fight against corruption because if we allow it, corruption can kill us. I will continue the same way the President is doing,” he said.

    “What is he doing that is right in terms of fighting corruption? Corruption has a twin brother – poverty. We cannot fight corruption without fighting poverty.”

    Akpabio, also a former governor of Akwa Ibom State as well as ex-Senate Minority Leader, identified three major issues affecting the nation.

    The issues, he stated, are insecurity, national integration, and the economy, vowing to tackle them to ensure Nigeria’s greatness in the comity of nations.

    On how to achieve that, he recalled how he was able to plunge leakages as well as embark on capital projects during his sway as governor in Akwa Ibom State.

    “In my state, I was the only governor in Nigeria that was able to do 80 per cent of capital allocation on a yearly basis and 20 per cent recurrent. I plunged the loophole of leakages in the system and that is why you have the outflow of capital projects.

    “The maydays of what you used to hear some people said uncommon transformation in Akwa Ibom State and Nigerians are not wrong urging me to come out. I am convinced within me that based on the love I have seen this current President show to Nigerians, Nigerians will go higher than where we are.”

  • 2023: Akpabio joins APC Presidential Race, Vows to Unite Nigeria

    2023: Akpabio joins APC Presidential Race, Vows to Unite Nigeria

    Former Governor of Akwa Ibom and Minister for Niger Delta Affairs Senator Godswill Akpabio has joined the league of presidential aspirants in the All Progressive Congress, APC, promising to unite Nigeria.

    Akpabio who promised not to allow Nigeria sink, said he would bring restoration, dignity, respect and succour to Nigerians.

    Speaking on Wednesday to a mammoth crowd at Ikot Ekpene Township stadium, Akpabio said he would restore the days of glory experienced in Akwa Ibom to the country.

    He said as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, 88 road projects which would have been abandoned if not for the fear of forensic audit initiated by the commission was completed by contractors, saying his wealth of experience as governor and as minister qualifies him for President.

    “You have heard a lot of declaration but this one is uncommon. It is not only a message of hope, positive continuity and of the Egyptians you see today, you will see no more.

    “It is a message of restoration, of your dignity, respect in the ECOWAS region and beyond.I am determined not to let our nation sink but drink from the deep well of experiences I have from service. I seek your nomination to become your President come 2023.” He stated.

    The minister commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the opportunity to serve as Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs and his stance on corruption saying,”the President is fighting corruption the way I like corruption to be fought,” he said.

    Akpabio listed numerous roads and bridges in Akwa Ibom, free and compulsory education, and other facilities in the state as infrasturctures that can be replicated in Nigeria if given opportunity by the APC to fly the flag in the party’s primary convention.

    He assured Nigerians that the second Niger bridge would be completed just as he had inaugurated the Niger Delta Development Commission headquarters which was abandoned for 26 years .

    ” You have heard a lot of declarations . This one is very uncommon . I have never seen a politician loved by his people and others across the nation like Godswill Akpabio.” The minister said.

    He observed that his presidential declaration is backed by Representatives of major political blocks in the nation especially the North , West and South East and acknowledged the representative of Northern Youths Forum who had bought the APC Presidential Nomination Form for him as a mark of solidarity and support .

  • Nigerian Youths Hold Lecture in Honour of Akpabio

    Nigerian Youths Hold Lecture in Honour of Akpabio

    Nigerian youths under the aegis of National Youth Council of Nigeria today in Abuja organised a birthday lecture in honour of the current Minister of the Niger- Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio.

    In his welcome address, the President of National Youth Council of Nigeria, Solomon Adodo extolled the sterling qualities and leadership of Sen. Akpabio, praying God to grant him health, wisdom more years of service to Nigeria and humanity at large.

    “Today we are here to honour a great man who has brought the much needed calm and progress to the Niger-Delta region and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs within a short period of time”. It is our prayer that God will continue to be with him in the discharge of his duties.

    Earlier, the guest speaker at the lecture Dr. Orusa Thompson Ibikeremo lauded the revolution and reforms in the Niger Delta under Akpabio’s administration, describing him as a worthy son of the Niger Delta.

    “The Niger-Delta ministry has been blessed with the best minister since its inception as previous administrations were only interested in milking the region dry and profiteering from the allocations meant to benefit the region”, he added

    The forensic audits conducted by the ministry of Niger-Delta affairs helped to clear a lot of issues that had hitherto plagued the region and made it a flashpoint of violence and protests. The level of rot and decay was unimaginable and intolerable for any sane society.

    In their parley with journalists after the lecture, the youths lauded the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari in ensuring that the Niger Delta region reclaims it’s glory amongst other regions and the nation at large.

    “We are pleased with the choice of Godswill Akpabio, a seasoned administrator and politician with impeccable track record as the minister of Niger-Delta affairs and the reforms he has introduced. He has transformed the ministry and we’re happy to identify with him. We are equally pleased with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for appointing the very best brain in the region to salvage the rot that bedevilled the region”, the statement added.

    The youths used the occasion to pray for the administration of President Buhari that God will grant him more wisdom to solve national issues in the same way he has solved the problem of leadership crisis in the Niger Delta region.

    “We are positive that the successes recorded in the fight against corruption, oil bunkering, piracy, armed robbery and theft in the region as well as the massive reforms and youth friendly policies of Mr. President in the Niger Delta region can be replicated in other regions of Nigeria to make the country great again, the youth added.

  • 2023 Presidency: Northern Group Rallies Support for Akpabio

    2023 Presidency: Northern Group Rallies Support for Akpabio

    A northern political group, North Central Patriotic Democrats (NCPD), yesterday urged the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to present himself for presidency in the 2023 general election.

    The group revealed that it has endorsed Akpabio as its sole candidate in the build up to the 2023 presidential election.

    The Chairman of the group, Hon Musa Yahaya Rilwanu, made public the position of the group while interacting with journalists in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State.

    The group chairman maintained that for fairness and equity, the 2023 presidency of Nigeria should go to the southern part of the country.

    He also appealed that the presidency of the country should always be rotated between the northern and southern parts of the country.

    According to Rilwanu, “The Patriotic Democrats of the North Central Nigeria deem it fit to ask the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to participate in the presidential race in the forthcoming general election based purely on his accomplishments, competences and goodwill in steering the governance of Akwa Ibom State when he held sway as that state governor, as well as the minister’s pragmatic performance during his stay in the National Assembly as senator.

    “The group has on record that prior to the minister’s assumption of office at the Niger Delta Affairs ministry, activities at the ministry were in dire need for reformation. Therefore, it took the frugality in his resource management and political determination to turn around the entire gamut of the Niger Delta community for the better within his short stay in office.”

    He concluded that the North Central democrats, therefore, called on Akpabio to make himself available for the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the forthcoming general election.

  • I am not at war with Akpabio, says Gov. Emmanuel

    I am not at war with Akpabio, says Gov. Emmanuel

    The much talked about cold war between Governor Udom Emmanuel and his predecessor, Senator Godswill Akpabio may after all be a hoax as the Governor has declared that he has no problems with the now Niger Delta Affairs Minister.

    Emmanuel who made the declaration during a media parley in Uyo last weekend maintained that political disagreements should not be mistaken to mean enemity between persons in politics.

    He said that even among the governors in the Governors Forum, challenges, interest and welfare of their different states has always united them despite having differing political alienation.

    “On my honour, I have no problem with anyone. But let me say it here that political parties are just platforms and once elections are over, we should all come together for development.” The Governor said

    On the solution to the present economic challenges in the country Emmanuel declared that the only key to sustainable economic development in Nigeria remained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) being at the center.

    The Governor who drew compared Nigeria under a PDP President and the nation today said the crisis in the nation’s economic sector could only be restored by the PDP.

    He recalled that the PDP government left Naira to Dollar exchange at 192 and GDP at very impressive rate calling on Nigerians to work to ensure that PDP is returned to take Nigeria out of its present economic quagmire.

    “You need PDP for sustainable economic development in Nigeria. Look at how much we left Naira to Dollar exchange. Check out the inflation rate today, check the GDP. The only solution is PDP.” He said.

  • Akpabio fingers Govt officials, stakeholders for NDDC’s failure-Akpabio

    Akpabio fingers Govt officials, stakeholders for NDDC’s failure-Akpabio

    Niger Delta Affairs minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio has blamed government officials and all relevant stakeholders in the Niger Delta region for the past failures of the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) to deliver on its mandate.

    Akpabio who stated this on Friday in Uyo in a keynote address to flag-off the NDDC retreat identified corruption, weak governance and institutional weaknesses, lack of proper synergy as some of the drawbacks of the interventionist agency.

    The Minister who also supervises the NDDC said that transparency and inclusiveness in the commission’s budgeting systems, evaluation and strict monitoring of projects and programmes are necessary for the NDDC to impact meaningfully in the region.

    “We have just finished the Capacity Building Workshop organized with critical stakeholders covering, the National Assembly, the State Governments of the Region, the Oil Companies, the traditional rulers, Civil Societies, the youth and NDDC Management.

    ”For the Commission to effectively and efficiently deliver on its mandate, as captured in Section 7 of the Niger Delta Development Commission (Establishment, etc.) Act (as amended), it was decided to look at ways at achieving an all-inclusive budget.

    ”It is clear that fiscal transparency in budgeting has been compromised, not only by executive overrides, but by weak internal mechanisms, which give little or no resistance to overbearing external influences.” He explained.

    He added that ‘corruption remained one of the greatest problems of the Nigerian society and is also rooted in the Commission

    ”It has been reported that the level of corruption engulfed all the sectors including government, parastatals, ministries, government officials and community leaders even the youth leaders and NDDC was not left out in the act.

    ”If strengthening NDDC, as an institution through its budgeting systems, as well as through its procurement, monitoring, evaluation and compliance processes, is not achieved, then the bells of doom would, inevitably, begin to toll harder.

    ”Secondly, we should look at governance issues. It is often stated that “weak political and institutional governance in the Niger Delta has led to the misuse of public resources, poor service delivery, and the poor enforcement, of the law.

    ”The consequence has been the lingering restiveness, the breakdown of trust, abuse and misuse of power between officials and the communities, and embezzlement and attendant violence.

    ”Yet, every concerned party is guilty. Private investors in the oil and gas sector, factions of different community restive groups, traditional rulers, the regulatory and supervisory agencies and government officials have been fingered as contributory to the challenges in establishing good governance”. Akpabio said.

    In his welcome remarks, the Interim Administrator of the NDDC, Mr. Efiong Akwa said the retreat is aimed at furthering ongoing consultations between the commission and all relevant stakeholders for effective development of the region.