ISD 2023: Ekpoudom Merely Playing to Gallery- Ekperikpe Ekpo
The initial winner of the All Progressives Congress Senatorial seat for Akwa Ibom North-West District (Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District) on May 28, 2022, Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo has described as a huge joke and self-deceit by Mr Udom Ekpoudom to ever lay claim to a seat he lost woefully during the primaries held at Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium.
Obongemem Ekperikpe, who spoke with journalists over the weekend to put the records straight said “it is unfounded, false and misleading for Ekpoudom who scored 12 votes against 427 votes he scored in the said primaries to go about making ridiculous remarks in the public space that he won the election.
Throwing more light, Ekpo said ”Today, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio is currently the Standard-bearer of the ticket”
Explaining the eventual emergence of Senator Godswill Akpabio as the All Progressive Congress candidate for Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, Ekperikpe Ekpo highlighted,” I emerged winner of that Senatorial race with 427 votes as against DIG Udom Ekpoudom, who scored 12 votes before the call for a re-conduct by NWC of our party at the instance of police report citing some infractions at the venue of the initial primary. I, Rt. Hon. Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo stood down from the race during the re-conduct of the Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial primary on June 9, 2022, about our Grand political leader, Senator Akpabio who contested and won. I have since congratulated His Excellency, Senator Godswill Akpabio on his victory, while urging all eligible voters to vote for him at the poll come February 2023.
Ekpo further intoned ”The days of parallel primaries are gone. It is an old tactic employed by unpopular aspirants to seek notice and may be called for negotiations and compensation. We should all be guided”.
Related: ISD 2023: Online Poll Favours Ekperikpe Ekpo Ahead Of Other Aspirants
Also speaking on the raging matter, a chieftain of APC in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Mfon Patrick explained that it is the sole prerogative of the National Working Committee of APC to constitute and inaugurate Primaries Elections Committees, not aspirants or State party Chairmen as against the illegal act of Ekpoudom against the people of Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District.
According to him, “The situation in Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District is one so obvious to public knowledge but some political magicians are trying everything possible to paint a false narrative and raise a cloud of dust otherwise to blind the innocent public of the truth and perhaps to cause public disorder too.
“These people behind the conjure of imaginary primary are familiar with corrupt practices as being witnessed by their current action and inaction to defraud the people of Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District of their legitimate right to settle for their choice.
On Mr Ekpoudom’s false claim to the APC’s Senatorial candidacy, Mr Patrick highlighted: “Ekperikpe, having been declared winner of the said election, it was discovered that one of his fellow contestants, DIG Udom Udo Ekpoudom had played some secret script before the day of the primary election. A script intended to mar the legitimate process by causing confusion and trouble across the senatorial district.
“Ekpoudom, who lost to Obongemem Ekperikpe, had stage-managed an election on the 27th May 2022 as against the APC National Working Committee’s approved date for National Assembly elections across Nigeria being 28th May 2022. Ekpoudom has been seen to foment trouble throwing spanner in the works to cause public disorder amongst the peace-loving people of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.
“The people have resisted. They will stop at nothing to resist a broad daylight fraud as Ekpoudom only plays to the gallery.
Read Also: ISD 2023: We Need Your Experience In Senate, Youth Groups Urge Ekperikpe Ekpo
“DIG Ekpo Udom has been running to the market square with a false narrative. Udom, who illegally brought in his friends to supervise his dummy election on May 27th, 2022 has been crying foul.
“I dare Udom, to publish names of the list of delegates approved for the said primary he conducted with his friends Mr Item Uwem Eyo (Abak) and Mr Ebong Umanah as Chairman and Secretary respectively who endorsed his fake result at the fake venue, Primary School Urban No. 1. Ikot Ekpene.
“As a party man who believes in justice, I took my time to sleuth over the entire process which culminated in my laying hands on the real list of the election panel approved by the party National Secretariat”.
