Politics

How Akpabio ‘Deceived’ Nigerians On His Senatorial Ambition

Published

4 years ago

June 10, 2022

On Thursday, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Godswill Akpabio, clinched the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for Akwa Ibom North West Constituency in the 2023 elections.

The former minister represented the constituency between 2015 and 2019, but he lost his reelection in 2019.

Akpabio clinches APC senate ticket
Fayemi, Akpabio, Amosun, 4 other aspirants step down for Tinubu
Shortly after, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him into his cabinet, a move seen as a compensation for Akpabio, who had defected to the APC from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he served as two-term governor of Akwa Ibom.

In the buildup to the 2023 elections, Akpabio resigned from the Buhari administration and obtained the N100 million expression of interest and nomination forms.

Last month, there were reports that he had obtained senatorial form as a backup in the event that his presidential ambition hit the rock.

But the former minister denied this and accused the newspaper which exposed the development of spreading falsehood.

“The rumour making the rounds that I have withdrawn from the Presidential race is indeed laughable. I have not withdrawn, neither have I obtained any Senatorial Nomination form, as published by a newspaper today. I am very much in this race and I am in it, to WIN.

“Rumours of my purported withdrawal are signs of fear of my person in the race. I have not withdrawn, I will not withdraw. I will win this race and be sworn in as your next President, by God’s grace, in 2023,” Akpabio had said in a post on his verified Facebook post.

But he alongside six others stepped down for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at the just concluded presidential primary of the ruling party.

Two days after this, Akpabio clinched the senatorial ticket after defeating DIG Ekpo Udom (rtd) who won the senatorial primary conducted when Akpabio was involved in presidential campaign.

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

According to the result of the rerun senatorial primary election, Akapbio emerged winner with 478 votes, while Udom secured just three votes.

Speaking shortly after he was declared winner of the exercise, which held at Godswill Akpabio Empowerment Centre, Ikot Ekpene, Akpabio said, “I thank the Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district for finding me worthy to be given another opportunity to represent you in the Nigerian Senate. I recall when you gave me the first mandate in 2015 to 2019, I recall that there is no Senator ever that did the kind of empowerment I did for you.

“I know a lot of projects were done across the ten local government areas, from markets to water projects, to electrification project, to building of classroom blocks.”

DAILY TRUST.

Politics

JUST IN: Former APC National Youth Leader Dumps Party

Published

2 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Sadiq Abubakar, a former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Youth Leader has announced his decision to dump the ruling party.

Abubakar who disclosed this in an interview with Newsmen in Bauchi on Wednesday, explained that his decision was unconnected with the hardship faced by many Nigerian homes due to difficult policies and programmes by the APC.

According to him, the move was also driven by an objective of securing free and fair victory in future election primaries so as to continue to serve the people with strength and integrity.

He stated that his decision followed a series of consultations with family, friends, political associates and stakeholders saying this was after a careful reflection on recent developments within the party structure and internal arrangements.

“It is high time to adopt a party with a more clear vision and the compassion to help the common man.

“The APC processes are not working, the party is not just and fair. I’m leaving the party because there is no fairness in the electoral processes of the party as well as the consensus.

“And I know that they are not going to be fair in the forthcoming primaries but they will only use the power of incumbency.

“Also, what the party is doing to every family is becoming something else as it’s becoming too hard to put a three square meal on the table,” he said.

The Former APC National Youth Leader however, affirmed that he would soon reveal the new political party of his destination in no distant time.

Politics

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

Published

8 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

9 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.”