Akpabio serves senator-elect, Ekpenyong, petition notice for tribunal

Isaac Job, Uyo

Former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Engr. Chris Ekpenyong, who defeated Senator Godswill Akpabio in the just concluded National Assembly election for the Ikot Ekpene (Akwa Ibom Noth-West) Senatorial District, has been served a copy of the petition to appear before the election petition tribunal.

Receiving the summons from the tribunal secretary on Tuesday at his EEMJM hotel, Uyo, Ekpenyong said he was not perturbed by Akpabio’s action, noting that “he (Akpabio) was only embarking on a futile journey to change the course already designed by God”.

He told his teeming supporters to “remain calm as your mand0ate 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 the people of Ikot Ekpene at all times”, he stressed.

Senator Godswill 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 to reclaim his mandate.

Counsel to Akpabio, Mr. Sunday Ameh (SAN), filed the petition for the embattled Senator Akpabio last week.

Ameh, had earlier withdrawn the suit filed at Apo District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja high court, seeking an order of mandamus for INEC to review the results of the poll in his Senatorial District which he claimed was characterized by irregularities.

It was learnt that the tribunal would soon commence hearing on all post 2019 general elections’ matters in Akwa Ibom State.

Akpabio, former Senate Minority Leader, according to a statement by his Media Aide, 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.

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 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.

But the former Deputy Governor, who had last Thursday obtained Certificate of Return (CoR) from INEC in Abuja, maintained that he won the poll through a free, fair and credible process and urged Akpabio to accept defeat in good faith.,

Reacting to the petition by Akpabio, the senator- elect, Dr. Chris Ekpenyong, said his lawyer would be at the tribunal to disproof all the allegations that would give him 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”.