As the tussle for the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District (Akwa Ibom North-West) seat between former governor Godswill Akpabio and a former deputy inspector general of police (DIG) Udom Ekpoudom continues to fester, tension has enveloped the state over the Federal High Court Abuja ruling, declaring Akpabio as the authentic candidate for the contest on Thursday.
While the camp of former governor Akpabio is bubbling with excitement over the ruling, anger has pervaded the camp of the ex-police chief.
2023: Court Declares Akpabio APC Candidate For Akwa Ibom North-West
At the party secretariat at the weekend, drinking spree continued as party members and supporters of Chief Akpabio hailed the ruling as “victory for democracy and for the people of good conscience”.
A chieftain of the state chapter of the APC and a key member of the media team of the party, Sir Denis Udoma, noted that the outcome of the case was a total reflection of the wishes of the Akwa Ibom people and the good people of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District because Akpabio is an epitome of love, peace, development and good representation.
But Ekpoudom was quick to denounce the ruling, saying he was not joined as a party in the case, adding that his lawyers were currently studying the ruling with a view to deciding on the next line of action.
A statement by the director-general of Ekpoudom Campaign Organisation, Hon. Uwem Udoma, urged his supporters to remain calm, promising not to abandon the mandate.
“We wish to state that this is nothing but a familiar gimmick by Senator Akpabio because it is public knowledge that the matter is already before a Federal High Court of which judgement has been fixed for Tuesday, September 21, 2022,” the statement said.
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