Ahead of the primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the leaders of the party in Akwa Ibom State have unanimously adopted former Senate Minority Leader and Senator representing Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, Senator Godswill Akpabio as a consensus candidate of the party.
A statement by the media aide of the Senator, Anietie Ekong disclosed that the decision was taken on Monday morning after a protracted meeting of the party elders at Obong Ntak, the country home of Chief Inibehe Okorie, who was also a Senatorial aspirant.
Addressing his supporters after the meeting, Obong Okorie said he decided to forgo his aspiration in the interest of the party and the Senatorial District. He extolled Senator Akpabio as an “Uncommon Senator” and said he was excited at his entry into the APC. He enjoined his supporters to work for Senator Akpabio and the APC.
According to him, “ as far as his aspiration is concerned, we in Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District have declared Senator Akpabio as the unopposed candidate of the APC. We decided that we have to send our best to be our voice at the national level. Senator Akpabio is a Prophet whom we all respect at home,” he said.
Senator Akpabio thanked Obong Okorie for his dedication to the party and his decision to forgo his ambition. He said Chief Okorie decided to step down unconditionally to avoid any acrimony in the party.
Senator Akpabio said picking him as a consensus candidate in the Senatorial race meant his coming into the APC in Akwa Ibom State was generally accepted because he came along with others to add value to the party. He said APC in the state was working hard to mobilize support for the party at all levels so as to go into the elections with a united front.
According to him, “we are trying as a party to work as a family in the state. With the policy of the federal government that every vote must count as we witnessed in the election in Osun State, we have to work extra hard to deliver our party at all levels.
“I thank the leaders of the party in the state for the confidence they have reposed in me. I promise to redouble my effort in giving Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District and indeed Akwa Ibom State effective representation,” he said.
Atuekong Etiebet announced that earlier another aspirant Obong Ekperikpe Ekpo had also stepped down for Senator Akpabio and expressed delight at the unanimity of purpose of members of the party in the state in forging a common front. He said the coming of Akpabio into the party in the state would boost the fortune of the party.
Those in attendance at the meeting included, former Petroleum Minister and Chairman of the State caucus of the party, Atuekong Don Etiebet, APC State Chairman, Mr Ini Okopido, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Obong Nsima, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr Udom Ekpoudom (rtd) among others.
