The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has voided the primary election that produced Senator Godswill Akpabio as candidate of the All Progressives Congress, for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial district.
The former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, who stepped down for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the APC presidential primary, was declared winner of the senatorial primary that held on Thursday last week.
The Akwa Ibom APC Chairman, Mr Stephen Ntukekpo, had noted that he was directed by the National Working Committee of the APC to carry out a re-run over suspected infractions.
Akapbio was announced winner of the rerun with 478 votes, while Ekpo Udom, who had won the maiden primary election, secured a meagre 3 votes.
However, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Mike Igini, in an address on Sunday, said INEC would only recognise a winner from primary elections monitored by its officials.
Igini also denied claims that INEC monitoref the APC senatorial rerun election, where Akpabio emerged winner.
“The primaries was concluded on the 27th of last month, 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 primaries conducted on Thursday (June 9) that was monitored by INEC, none,” he stated.
Igini further affirmed that the APC has no governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom as the governorship primary that produced Akanimo Udofia as winner was not monitored by INEC.
