Politics

A’Ibom Senatorial Ticket: It’s Absurd, Akpabio Likes Causing Confusion – Former DIG, Ekpoudom

Published

4 years ago

July 31, 2022

Editor

Former Deputy Inspector General of Police, Udom Ekpoudom has said that it is absurd and intolerable that in recent times the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio likes to deprive people of their rights, and cause confusion and division anywhere he is.

Ekpoudom spoke to journalists over the weekend on the insistence of Akpabio, who is a former governor of the state, that he is the rightful Akwa Ibom North senatorial candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Akpabio did not contest the senatorial primaries officially organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (NYSC) and witnessed by the Department of State Services (DSS), the police and other stakeholders as he was campaigning to be the President of Nigeria. However, there were media reports suggesting that he had also bought the senate nomination form in case he failed the presidential primaries. INEC has refused to recognise Akpabio’s version of the senatorial primary election.

Ekpoudom said he was very surprised when Akpabio ran back to the state when he surrendered to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the eventual APC presidential candidate, and began to struggle for the senatorial ticket which he (Ekpoudom) had won already.

“I thought he was joking. So, what I am trying to say is that Akpabio was not a contestant in the primary. We did the primary and the results were sent to Abuja and the Independent National Electoral Commission supervised the whole exercise, the Police, the DSS were there and the results were sent to Abuja. Three weeks later, he came from nowhere to become a senator. What he (Akpabio) is doing is absurd to Abak Federal Constituency.

“He only wanted to cause confusion because he likes causing confusion these days. Instead of using what God has given to him; money, power, to build the state, he likes causing confusion,” he said.

“To buttress his assertion that Akpabio causes confusion, Ekpoudom further explained that when former APC national caretaker committee Secretary, Senator Akpan Udoedehe brought the APC to the state; it was supposed to be Udoedehe’s turn to contest the governorship position. Now is the turn of the Uyo Senatorial District in the state to produce a governor but Akpabio wants to bring someone from outside, and by doing that, trouble ensued.

“I am not happy because of that. It’s injustice. As if that was not enough, we conducted congresses in the state from the wards to the state level. He came and caused confusion. When the reports were sent to Abuja, on the way, the result was changed without knowing that INEC had their copy. Senator Akpabio was not a contestant for Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District in the primary.”

Reacting to Akpabio’s claim that the primaries conducted by INEC was cancelled due to security issues, Ekpoudom denied vehemently that there was a security threat.

“If the primary was cancelled, why didn’t they inform me? Nothing like that happened. INEC was there, the police were there, the DSS was there. There was nothing like a security issue. How would a retired police chief like me take part in an exercise and there would not be enough security? He just wanted to use that as an excuse,” he said.

The former police boss insisted that he would not surrender the ticket he duly won to Akpabio.

“If I was in his shoes, I should be thanking my God that in a state like Akwa Ibom, where there are a lot of educated people, I have been able to achieve so much as commissioner, governor, Senator and a minister of the Federal Republic. But I think, he wants to misuse what God has given to him,” he said.

DAILY POST

Related Topics:#Godswill Akpabio Akwa Ibom

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Politics

Defection: Peter Obi Simply Looking For ‘Food Is Ready’ Party – Wike

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe on former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his recent defection.

Speaking during a media parley on Wednesday, Wike said Obi is looking for a ‘food is ready’ political party.

The minister said, “Obi was in APGA, he couldn’t build APGA. He went to Labour, he ran away again from Labour. All he’s looking for is food is ready political party.”

Recall that Obi and Rabi’u Kwankwaso, former presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, on Sunday officially joined the NDC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Politics

2027: Nobody Wants Fubara – Wike

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that there is widespread support for Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to return in 2027.

Speaking during his monthly media parley on Wednesday in Abuja, Wike suggested that Fubara can’t claim to enjoy unanimous backing from the public.

He explained that the political crisis in Rivers State had earlier been addressed through the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, particularly during impeachment proceedings initiated against Fubara.

According to Wike, the President advised all parties to embrace peace, leading to the withdrawal of the impeachment move by the State House of Assembly after agreements were reached.

Wike, however, alleged that the governor failed to fully adhere to the terms agreed during the arbitration process.

Reacting to claims that the people were urging Fubara to seek re-election in 2027, Wike rejected the assertion, insisting that such narratives were misleading.

Wike maintained that appearing before the President for arbitration required respect for the outcome, noting that all parties were expected to uphold their commitments.

He said: “The President, intervened in the impeachment proceeding. I said withdraw, let their be peace. And the governor said, look, I’m ready for peace. Look, I’m no longer interested for this. I will not do this. The Assembly went and withdrew the impeachment.

“Having withdrawn the impeachment, he is now too smart on what you agreed before the President. It’s like when you go on arbitration.”

Wike continued, “This one is what I don’t like. Nobody wants anybody. Please, don’t tell me that. Excuse me.

You can go and tell that to the market people or children. Two years that people say he should come out. Who told you that?

“Which politician will say that I was sleeping they came and woke me? Even if people people come to wake you, can’t you say, no, I won’t do it. I’m not prepared for it.

“That you appeared before a President of the country on arbitration, the two parties on arbitration, and these people respected Mr. President, and have done their own part.”

Politics

2027: Wike Opens Up On Preferred Rivers Guber Candidate

Published

7 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday said he hasn’t endorsed any candidate for the Rivers state gubernatorial election in 2027.

Wike stated this on Wednesday during his monthly media parley in Abuja.

Wike said that the endorsement will come only after a meeting by the joint coalition in the state.

He said: “I haven’t endorsed anybody. And I can’t endorse anybody until the joint coalition meets.”

DAILY POST reports that questions have been raised concerning the fate of current governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, in 2027.

The FCT Minister was reported to have endorsed former State Commissioner for Works, Alabo Dakorinama George Kelly, as his preferred candidate for the Rivers State governorship election.

Sources told DAILY POST that Wike settled for George after a closed-door meeting with key political stakeholders in Port Harcourt on Monday.