Panic in A’Ibom APC over Sen Akpabio’s defeat

…Saraki loses Kwara Central senatorial seat

Isaac Job, Uyo and Tunde Opalana, Abuja

There was tension in the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday as the result released from eight local government areas by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the Senatorial District of Senator Godswill Akpabio did not favour the incumbent senator representing the area in the National Assembly. The National Assembly election result (Senate) released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in eight out of ten council area in the senatorial District by local government Electoral Officers (EO) showed that the former Deputy Governor of the state, Engr. Chris Ekpenyong, won in Abak, Etim Ekpo, Ika, Obot Akara, Ini and Ikono local government areas. Other areas where the former Deputy Governor, Chris Ekpenyong, was leading include Oruk Anam, Ukanafun and Ikot Ekpene as released by the Electoral Officers in the council areas. The Daily Times investigation revealed that the result announced by INEC Electoral Officers and transmitted to headquarters in Uyo sent bad signal to the APC causing tension for impending defeat of the former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last year for All Progressives Congress (APC) last year. The development caused Senator Akpabio to make last minutes effort to save his political career from mockery in the state as he allegedly attempted to change the result of Essien Udim (his home local government) but was resisted by INEC officials in the area. Reacting to the incident, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) raised alarm and drew attention of the security agencies. In a statement issued on Sunday in Uyo titled: “The Attempt to Change the Result of Essien Udim will not be accepted”, the Publicity Secretary of PDP, Comrade Ini Ememobong, alleged that Senator Godswill Akpabio has made several attempt to change result of Essien Udim Council Area against his mass rejection by the people. “Since yesterday, there have been several attempts by Senator Godswill Akpabio to change the results of Essien Udim Local Government Area from the mass rejection that the voters served him to a huge number in his favour. This move has suffered several setbacks since then. It is common knowledge that all other local government areas in that Senatorial District have collated and submitted their results, except Essien Udim and this has been confirmed by our agents. “However, information reaching us is that Senator Godswill Akpabio accompanied by Ibanga Akpabio, Hon. Emmanuel Akpan, Hon. Nse Ntuen, armed police, soldiers and thugs are currently at the INEC office at Essien Udim. The Electoral Officer, Charles Ibiapuye Esq, we learnt, has finally succumbed to pressure emanating from death threats and financial inducement of 200,000 USD and is now filling results sheets for units and wards where elections had been cancelled.” Meanwhile, Senate President. Dr. Bukola Saraki, has lost his Kwara Central senatorial seat to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Senator Saraki lost in all of the local governments in his Senatorial District in Saturday’s National Assembly elections. The local governments are Asa, Ilorin South and Ilorin East. The fourth local government is Ilorin West, the Senate President own local government. Result announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission on Sunday evening showed that in Ilorin West, APC polled 51, 531 while the PDP polled 30, 075. Final result showed that Oloriegbe polled 123,808 while Saraki got 68,994 votes.