Despite reports that the name of Chief Godswill Akpabio conspicuously was missing as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district on the list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), one of his aides hass insisted that he will be on the ballot in 2023.
Jackson Udom, Chief Press Secretary to Akpabio, dismissed any controversy surrounding the candidature of the immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs as the APC senatorial candidate.
The CPS reacted to a news story “purporting that the Akwa Ibom State, Resident Electoral Commissioner INEC, Mr Mike Igini, during an interview with the Arise TV, described the victory of Senator Godswill Akpabio, at the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial Primary, as ‘laughable’.”
Udom said the claim on Igini’s interview was false and bias, accusing the writer as doing the bidding of some politicians who are determined to run down the former governor of Akwa Ibom State.
The Chief Press Secretary said “the statement, as far as we know, exists only in the warped imagination of the writer, his Co- purveyors of lies and falsehood as well as his faceless collaborators, who will do anything to tar the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, inorder to please their paymaster(s).
“The unbiased minds who listened to the controversial Electoral Officer’s interview, are in agreement that at no time, did Igini make mention of the name of the former Minister throughout his highly biased interview, not to talk of describing his legally won senatorial contest as ‘laughable’.
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On behalf of the Akpabio campaign organisation, Udom challenged the claimant “to produce the video clip where the quotations he credited to Igini on Akpabio were made.
“It is however sad that who claims to be a reporter, could throughout his biased report, ignore the failure of Igini to provide direct answers to the questions that were asked him.
He also challenged a claim that the NWC of the party had withdrawn from the suit instituted by Akpabio against INEC, describing it as laughable.
“In fact, if there is anything the party has done in the prevailing circumstance to bolster his confidence, is its resolve to stand by all their elected candidates including Akpabio, to ensure that they get their names on the ballot.
“We also hope that the allegation of forgery, leveled against the former Senate Minority Leader, of his procurement of a forged document to prosecute his electoral victory, would be proved by him when called to substantiate his claims at the appropriate time,” he added.
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