Former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has won the Senate ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District.
Senator Akpabio won the re-run with 478 votes, out of the 512 accredited delegates to defeat two other aspirants.
The APC primary for Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District, also known as Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, had earlier been held on May 28, 2022, with retired Deputy Inspector General Udom Ekpoudom, emerging the winner.
But according to the APC Chairman in the state, Steven Ntukekpo, the re-run was a directive from the National Working Committee of the party, due to issues arising from the previous exercise.
The election was conducted by the Primary Election Committee, sent from the national secretariat of the party, with Sylvester Okonkwo as Chairman, while a three-man Appeal Committee, led by Sunday Owoyela, was also on the ground.
Three aspirants: Senator Godswill Akpabio, Joseph Akpan and Udom Ekpoudom contested the primary after one of the aspirants, Ekperikpe Ekpo, stepped down for Senator Akpabio.
At the end of the voting, the Returning Officer, Bunmi Imolehe, declared the former Senate Minority Leader, the winner.
In his victory speech, the former governor of Akwa Ibom State thanked the delegates for their support and promised better days ahead.
Senator Akpabio was first elected into the Senate in 2015 when he became the Minority Leader of the red chamber.
He was also an aspirant at the just concluded presidential primary of the APC, where he stepped down for the eventual winner, Senator Bola Tinubu.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
