APC governorship aspirant in A’Ibom State accepts outcome of primary election
Akpan Umoh, Uyo
Prof. Christopher Ekong, one of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and governorship aspirant in Akwa Ibom primary, has accepted the outcome of the May 26 primary election in the state.
Ekong, while speaking with journalists in Uyo, on Tuesday, urged all other aspirants to sheath their swords and support Mr Akanimo Udofia, who won the APC primary election.
The professor, a former Commissioner for Economic Development, urged aspirants and all stakeholders not to allow individual goals, greed, hatred, self-centredness and unforgiving spirit to kill the chances of the party producing a governor in the state.
“It should therefore be seen as certainly unarguably, that I did not participate in the race to be easily compromised, or at any rate, allow myself or that of my other compatriots in that race.
“Who in the instance represented son the finest crop of Akwa Ibom great sons, to either be defrauded or shortchanged in a race to offer the best leadership and governance solution to our beloved state.
“However, with the close of that august and benchmark event which saw one of the most accomplished sons of our great state emerge and become declared the democratically preferred choice of our esteemed delegates at the polls.
“I had acted in the true spirit of sportsmanship, appreciated and as well, accepted the position and decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as being sacrosanct and supreme in the concluded exercise.
“Obong Akanimo Udofia had been declared winner of APC governorship primary in Akwa Ibom State.
“I had since accepted the result as declared by the party. I want to use this opportunity to call on all other aspirants in the race to sheath their swords and open the doors for reconciliation and healing to work with the flag bearer,” Ekong said.
Ekong said that he participated in the primary and scored 21 votes while the Akanimo Udofia scored 1,227 votes.
On the argument that Udofia has just entered the party, Ekong said in line with the APC constitution as stipulated in Article 31(2) as amended, Udofia applied for and was duly granted a waiver to contest the governorship primary election by National Working Committee (NWC).
Our correspondent reports that some aggrieved party aspirants led by Sen. Ita Enang on May 27 called a press conference to urge the NWC of APC to cancel the primary election as it was conducted without the observation of INEC.
