By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday, declared Senator Godswill Akpabio of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial (Ikot Ekpene) election.
Declaring Akpabio as the winner of the senatorial district contest, Professor Anthony Udoh, 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) Barr Emmanuel Enoidem came a distant second polling 69,838 votes.
In his reaction shortly after his declaration as the winner of the Senatorial contest, the former governor of the state thanked the people who trooped out enmase to cast their votes for him, promising to represent them well at the red chamber.
According to Akpabio, “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.”
Akpabio, whose speech was intermittently laced with songs, promised his constituents of quality representation at the National Assembly.
Earlier on Thursday in Abak Local Government Area of the state, Senator Akpabio during a consultation with Afe Annang, a socio-political organisation of the Annang ethnic nationality in the state, said that his senatorial ambition was premised on his antecedents as Governor of Akwa Ibom State, just as his works would speak for him.
Reminiscing his achievements as Governor of the state from 2007 to 2015, Akpabio said he has been working for the people throughout his political career and would continue to work for the Annang people and the state, adding that most of the projects in the state besides human capital development, were executed during his tenure as governor..
He listed few of the projects to include, Four Point by Sheraton Hotel, Ibom Speciality Hospital, Nest of Champions International Stadium, Tropicana Entertainment Center, completion of Ibom International Airport, flyovers to ease traffic in Uyo, the state capital and the massive roads network with bridges and state-of-the-art underground drainage system at flood prone areas in the state.
He chastised the former Minister of Petroleum and member, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the APC, Chief Don Etiebet, who recently threatened to ensure that Akpabio loses the 2023 senatorial election if he refuses to step down to respect the zoning arrangement alleged to have been emplaced in the district.
Senator Akpabio challenged Etiebet to indicate how he improved the fortunes of the people as former Minister of Petroleum and contributed to the development of Akwa Ibom State.
The former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs also rebuked his PDP contender of the senatorial slot, Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem for daring to speak against him, insisting that he created the platform for Enoidem to become politically relevant today.
He maintained that not withstanding his endorsement by the leaders of Annang to win the elections but that of the wish of the electorate would prevail.
Akpabio however advised the Annang leaders whom he said he owed due respect owing to their enormous roles in molding a better society, to caution their sons against opposing his speaking ill of him in the name of politics or seeking relevant.
