BREAKING: INEC rejects ‘kangaroo primary ‘ election, Akpabio claimed to have won

The immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio has been rejected as the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom Northwest by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The former governor and presidential aspirant was declared winner of the primary election that was conducted which the electoral umpire said, it didnt recognize.

Akpabio participated in the presidential primary election with the now flagbearer, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu which he earlier stepped down for him.

CAPITAL POST recalled that Akpabio was the first among the aspirants that stepped down for Tinubu before others follow suit at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

The INEC said, Akpabio was a product of a kangaroo primary election that it did not supervise, hence, it has rejected the outcome, but will recognize the earlier primary election that produced the former DIG Ekpo Udom.

Speaking with newsmen in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State on Sunday, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Mike Igini said the Commission would only recognize the election it monitored.

Igini said, the so called rerun election which Godswill Akpabio claimed to have won was conducted without approval of INEC.

“The primaries was concluded on the 27th of last month, so I don’t know what you are talking about. The one that was conducted was monitored by INEC and the report has been submitted to Abuja.

“INEC is not aware of any senatorial primaries conducted on Thursday (June 9) that was monitored by INEC, none,” he stated.

Meanwhile, State APC Chairman Stephen Ntukekpo said he was directed by the party at the national level to carry out a re-run over alleged infractions.

Akpabio claimed to have scored 478 votes, while DIG Ekpo Udom (rtd), was allocated 3 votes in the rerun.