The Akwa Ibom branch of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has on Friday demanded that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should not allow Godswill Akpabi, the All Progressive Candidate (APC) candidate for the re-run of the Ikot-Ekpene Senatorial District to withdraw as it will amount to derailing of the electoral process. The claim was made by, Ini Ememobong, the PDP publicity secretary in the state while addressing to newsmen in Uyo, the state capital.
According to Mr Ememobong, the PDP frowned at the attempt by Senator Godswill Akpabio to derail the electoral process of their district, as they have from a credible source that he is planning to use judicial process to withhold the process and scuttle the rerun by instituting Court action against them and subsequently compel INEC to accept his purported withdrawal.
His statement partly reads, “We urge the Independent National Electoral Commission to treat the withdrawal letter of Senator Akpabio as a concession of defeat and hold that the APC has no candidate in the forthcoming senatorial rerun due next year.
He further stated, “We ask the commission to ignore and discountenance the shameless demand for the removal of Mike Igini as REC. This call is ill-motivated as he wants REC that will allow him the liberty to concoct results in Essien Udim during the rerun, as that is the only way he can win elections there.”
Senator Akpabio in his letter sent to INEC wanted his withdrawal from the rerun, claiming the responsibility placed on him as the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs is so demanding on him.
