Akpabio loses senatorial seat to PDP

Godswill Akpabio

Senator Godswill Akpabio has lost his re-election bid for Akwa Ibom North Senatorial District to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Christopher Ekpenyong.

The Returning Officer, Prof. Peter Ogban, announced the results at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commsion (INEC) in Uyo on Tuesday.

He said Mr. Ekpeyong polled 118,215 votes to beat Akpabio of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 83,158 votes.

Akpabio also failed to deliver Akwa Ibom to Muhammadu Buhari.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom, Mike Igini, had told journalists earlier on Monday at the state collation centre in Uyo that INEC would not declare the election result in Uyo because of legal implication.

“The results are ready, but INEC can’t declare it in Uyo. The law says the election results must be declared at the senatorial district.

“The report we are getting about the security situation in Ikot Ekpene is that it is not okay for INEC to go there and announce results,” Mr Igini had said.