From JOE EFFIONG, UYO
The former governor of Akwa Ibom State and the APC candidate for Akwa Ibom North West (Ikot Ekpene) senatorial district, Sen Godswill Akpabio, has been declared the winner of the Saturday’s senatorial election in the district even as the ruling Peoples Democratic Party makes a very poor showing in the senatorial district by losing not only the senate, but two House Reps seats.
The returning officer for the senatorial district, Prof Anthony Udoh who declared Akpabio said that the former Minister Niger Delta Affairs, satisfied all conditions to be declared the winner having polled 115,401 valid votes.
The candidate of the peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Mr Emmanuel Enoidem, who came a distant second polled 69,838 votes.
Reacting to the victory, Sen Akpabio thanked the people who trooped out en-mase to cast their votes for him, promising to represent them well at the red chamber.
“I stand before you all this morning to personally and publicly register my appreciation for the show of love and support which led to my victory today. I am very grateful because you did not allow your conscience to be bought over even when they brought money from Uyo. You rejected their money and voted for me.”
He also disclosed that “serious attempts were made by the state government to truncate this victory just as they did in 2019, but your resolve to protect this mandate has led to this well deserved victory. I am very grateful and I won’t take this for granted.
Akpabio, whose speech was intermittently laced with songs, promised his constituents of quality representation at the National Assembly.
The ripple effects of Akpabio’s victory has robbed off positively on other APC candidates in the senatorial district as Mr Patrick Ukpong of the APC also beat Mr Idongesit Ntekpere of the PDP to clinch the Ikot Ekpene federal constituency ticket.
Similarly Mr Eziekiel Jumbo of the APC has been declared winner to beat Mr Aniekan Umanah of the PDP in Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika federal constituency.
The contest in Ikono/Ini has been declared inconclusive even as early result showed that Mr Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo of the YPP was having a comfortable lead over Dr Glory Edet of the PDP.
The only PDP candidate in Ikot Ekpene senatorial district that has won election so far is Mr Unyime Idem, who has been reelected for Ukanafun Oruk Anam federal constituency.