Christopher Ekpenyong, the Senator-elect for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, has acknowleged receipt of a copy of the petition by Senator Godswill Akpabio to appear before the election petition tribunal.
Ekpenyong acknowledged the receipt of the petition from the tribunal’s secretary on Tuesday at his EEMJM Hotel, Uyo, the state capital.
However, Ekpenyong, the former Deputy Governor, had last Thursday collected a Certificate of Return (CoR) from INEC in Abuja, maintained he won the poll through a free, fair and credible process, urging Akpabio to accept defeat in good faith.
According to him, ”I am not perturbed by Akpabio’s summon. He (Akpabio) is only embarking on a futile journey to change the course already designed by God.”
He told his teeming supporters to “remain calm as your mandate has been rescued by the divine arrangement for peace, development and even spread of the dividends of democracy to thrive.
“You should not be afraid of Akpabio. Your mandate is secured in me. The God that allowed your votes to be counted will stand by us to get justice at the tribunal and in various courts.
“We are ready to defend the will of the people of Ikot Ekpene at all times,” he noted.
Akpabio, who representing Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District (Akwa Ibom North-West), has taken his petition to the election petition tribunal.
Counsel to Akpabio, Mr. Sunday Ameh (SAN), filed the petition on the embattled Senator Akpabio’s behalf on March 18, 2019.
Ameh, had penultimate week withdrawn the earlier suit filed at Apo District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja High Court, seeking the invocation of an order of mandamus, ordering INEC to review the results of the poll in his Senatorial District due to improper process.
The tribunal sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital, would soon begin hearing on all post 2019 general elections’ matters.
