Senator Godswill Akpabio has emerged an All Progressives Party, APC consensus candidate for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, Straightnews has confirmed.
Inibehe Okori who wanted to pitch a fight against Akpabio for the seat has voluntarily withdrawn from the race. He told Straightnews on Monday in a telephone interview.
Okori was an APC Senatorial challenger to Akpabio in the 2015 general election, though the then out-going governor clinched the position with landslide votes.
Straightnews gathered that APC party leaders at the wee hours of Monday, September 24 had a crucial meeting in Obong Ntak, Etim Ekpo local government area, the country home of the Senatorial aspirant, Okori.
Addressing his supporters, Okori said he decided to forgo his aspiration in the interest of the party and the Senatorial District.
Describing Mr. Akpabio as an “Uncommon Senator”, he said was excited at his entry into the APC, and enjoined his supporters to work for Senator Akpabio and the APC.
The aspirant noted “ as far as his aspiration is concerned, we in Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District have declared Senator Akpabio as the unopposed candidate of the APC. We decided that we have to send our best to be our voice at the national level. Senator Akpabio is a Prophet whom we all respect at home,” he said.
Mr. Akpabio thanked Obong Okori for his dedication to the party and his decision to forgo his ambition. He said Mr Okori decided to step down unconditionally to avoid any acrimony in the party.
The Senator said picking him as a consensus candidate in the Senatorial race meant his coming into the APC in Akwa Ibom State was generally accepted because he came along with others to add value to the party. He said APC in the state was working hard to mobilise support for the party at all levels so as to go into the elections with a united front.
“We are trying as a party to work as a family in the state. With the policy of the federal government that every vote must count as we witnessed in the election in Osun State, we have to work extra hard to deliver our party at all levels.
“I thank the leaders of the party in the state for the confidence they have reposed in me. I promise to redouble my effort in giving Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District and indeed Akwa Ibom State effective representation,” he said.
Earlier, Atuekong Etiebet had announced that another aspirant Obong Ekperikpe Ekpo had also stepped down for Mr. Akpabio and expressed delight at the unanimity of purpose of members of the party in the state in forging a common front. He said the coming of Akpabio into the party in the state would boost the fortune of the party.
Attendees at the meeting were Ini Okopido, the State Chairman, Obong Nsima Ekere and DIG Udom Ekpoudom (rtd), among others.
Senator Akpabio may now face Christopher Ekpenyong, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP aspirant in the 2019 general elections.
