The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Senator Godswill Akpabio of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District election.
The INEC Returning Officer, Professor Anthony Udoh, said the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs satisfied all conditions to be declared the winner, having polled 115,401 valid votes.
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mr Emmanuel Enoidem, who came a distant second, polled 69,838 votes.
In his reaction shortly after his declaration as the winner of the senatorial contest, Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, thanked the people who trooped out enmase to cast their votes for him.
The former minister, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Jackson Udom, promised to represent his people well at the red chamber.
Akpabio said: ” I stand before you all this morning to personally and publicly register my appreciation for the show of love and support which led to my victory today.
“I am very grateful because you did not allow your conscience to be bought over even when they brought money from Uyo. You rejected their money and voted for me.”
He also disclosed that “serious attempts were made by the state government to truncate this victory just as they did in 2019.
“But your resolve to protect this mandate has led to this well deserved victory. I am very grateful and I won’t take this for granted.
Akpabio, whose speech was intermittently laced with songs, promised his constituents of quality representation at the National Assembly.
Senator Akpabio was a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, a former Senate Minority Leader and the immediate past Minister of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
He resigned from his post as a minister, last year, to contest for the presidential primary of the APC and eventually stepped down for Senator Bola Tinubu who is now hotly contesting the presidential seat in the 2023 elections.
