Godswill Akpabio, the former minister for Niger Delta Affairs, will seek for a seat in the Nigerian Senate after stepping down for Bola Tinubu, the former governor of Lagos State, in the APC’s just finished presidential primary (APC).
Mr. Tinubu received 1,271 votes, defeating 13 other candidates.
Mr. Akpabio filled the party forms that would get his name entered as the APC candidate for the Akwa Ibom North-West District election in 2023 on Thursday night, according to two sources familiar with the development. This was despite the fact that he did not participate in the party primary in the district.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, all party primaries for the 2023 elections will close on June 9. (INEC).
Mr. Akpabio’s media aide, Jackson Udom, confirmed to newsmen on Thursday night that the former minister will run for Senate.
Mr. Udom added that “people were still voting” in a “rescheduled” primary for the district on Thursday at 10.30 p.m.
“He (Akpabio) is contesting,” Mr. Udom said. “Obong Ekperikpe Ekpo has stepped down for him.”
Ekperikpe Ekpo, a former member of the House of Representatives, was proclaimed the victor of an APC senatorial primary held by a faction loyal to Mr. Akpabio earlier this month.
Udom Ekpoudom, a retired deputy inspector general of police, won a parallel APC primary in the district, which was organized by a faction loyal to John Akpanudoedehe, the party’s former national secretary.
Messrs. Akpabio and Akpanudoedehe have been fighting for control of the APC structure in Akwa Ibom for a long time.
Mr. Akpanudoedehe defected to the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) a few days ago and secured the party’s governorship ticket in Akwa Ibom after being outmaneuvered by the other faction, which elected Akanimo Udofia, a man who joined the APC in less than a month, as the party’s governorship candidate in the state for 2023.
When Newsmen reached out to Mr Ekpo, the man who will be succeeded by Mr Akpabio in the Senate contest, he declined to comment.
Mr Ekpoudom, the opposing faction’s candidate, claimed he was unaware Mr Akpabio had entered the campaign.
