The Supreme Court’s decision naming Godswill Akpabio as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District drew a response from a former minister of petroleum, Don Etiebet.
The APC leader said that the zone’s decision to support the Abak-5 candidate in 2023 will not be affected by the Supreme Court’s decision.
In a decision on Friday, the Supreme Court upheld Akpabio’s status as the APC candidate.
After considering the grounds put out by Akpabio, Justice Ibrahim Saulawa ruled that his appeal was meritorious and should be granted.
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In response, the former minister predicted that Akpabio will be defeated by senatorial district voters.
In an interview with reporters on Friday, Etiebet stated, “We in the senatorial district fully respect the judgement having come from a court and the Supreme Court for that matter, but we do not accept the verdict because of the inherent inconsistencies in the runoff to the primaries in our layman’s view.
“Although this point was not adduced in the court, we from the senatorial district have since resolved that it is the turn of Abak-5 Zone of the District and in particular, the Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency to produce the senator this time round since all the other three federal constituencies in the senatorial district have produced senators several times.
“The Federal Constituency of Ikot Ekpene where Senator Godswill Akpabio comes from has produced five senators since 1960 or three senators since 1999, including Godswill Akpabio himself, whereas the Abak Federal Constituency has produced none since 1960.
“That is why, the district unanimously nominated Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Udom Ekpoudom (retd.), from Etim Ekpo LGA of Abak Federal Constituency to contest under our great APC banner.”
He said that Akpabio did not take part in the INEC-monitored senatorial primary.
The former minister said that after losing his presidential attempt, Akpabio hurried back to run for the position.
Added he, “If Senator Godswill Akpabio has any feeling of comradeship, brotherliness and love for others except his inordinate inert political power mongering, he should have considered giving this Abak Federal Constituency, which has not tested the Senate since 1960 the chance to go unimpeded just like others from that constituency, who had surrendered for him for love and the interest of the District.
“However, it is the resolve of the ABAK-5 Zone of the Senatorial District, where I come from, and its allies in Ikot Ekpene and Ini/Ikono Federal Constituencies to support any Abak Federal Constituency Candidate to win the election. It is their turn and it is just”.
