APC Governorship Primaries wasn’t within time limit – Akwa Ibom REC
The outgoing Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom State, Barrister Mike Igini, insists that the All Progressives Congress (APC) didn’t hold its governorship primaries within the time limit set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Also, Igini, whose term as a REC in INEC ends on August 15, 2022claimed that the APC didn’t hold primaries in the Mbo State Constituency.
Igini made the report in a statement he released on August 10, 2022, in Uyo, the state capital of Akwa Ibom.
According to the departing REC, the clarification was required after a flurry of phone calls and emails from party primary voters.
Some well-connected party members in the state were rumored to be attempting to compromise the APC’s national headquarters to present a list of candidates that did not originate from the primaries overseen by the state office of INEC.
Igini, in the press statement, listed the names of successful APC candidates that emerged from the party primaries monitored by the Commission to contest the House of Assembly election in their various constituencies.
In the statement titled: “The status of party primaries monitored in Akwa Ibom state towards the 2023 general elections”, Igini stated that not all political parties presented candidates for all the positions.
The statement read: “In the last few days, even though many aggrieved individuals who took part in political party primaries have gone to court to seek redress, I have been inundated with calls and questions mainly from members and contestants of various elective primaries of the APC.
“They are making inquiries and wanting to know precisely the position concerning the APC primaries in Akwa Ibom State.
“The inquiries were regarding Senatorial, Federal Constituencies, Governorship and State House of Assembly candidacy in Akwa Ibom State towards the 2023 general elections.
“I am, therefore, once more, urged to restate for the records the status of party primaries monitored in Akwa Ibom state as my five-year tenure ends and do state as follows:
“In Akwa Ibom State, all the political parties that conducted party primaries in compliance with Section 84 (i) 2022 Electoral Act were monitored by the various teams made up for the exercise by the State office, and reports of the outcome endorsed and forwarded to Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
“However, not all political parties conducted primaries for all elective offices. The Commission fixed the conduct of all party primaries between April 4 and June 3, 2022.
“The APC did not conduct its gubernatorial party primary in Akwa Ibom State which was scheduled to hold on May 26, 2022 at the Sheergrace Arena, 8/10, Nsikak Eduok Avenue, Uyo.”
He also explained that it was only in Mbo State Constituency that did not elect a candidate for the House of Assembly.
According to the statement, candidates that were elected for the State House of Assembly are: Etimbuk Ime Akpan (Abak), Charles Sunday (Eket), Emmanuel Isreal Peter (Esit Eket/Ibeno), Ephraim Victor Okon (Essien Udim), Christopher Okorie (Etim Ekpo/Ika), Uduak Jackson (Etinan), Mfon George (Ibesikpo Asutan), Emmanuel Eshiet (Ibiono Ibom) and Sylvanus Nyauko (Ikono).
Others are, John Ayang (Ikot Abasi/Eastern Obolo), Keegan Martins Ekene (Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara), Nsikak Edet Udo (Ini), Ubong Aniedi Ekpo (Itu), Chryss Sabastian Ekpo (Mkpat Enin), Edemikoh Ita Dan (Nsit Atai), Emmanuel A. Jim (Nsit Ibom) and Godwin Micheal Avo (Nsit Ubium).
Also elected as APC candidates for the State Assembly are: Hon. Godwin Ima (Okobo), Udo Brownson Ekeminua (Onna), Edmond Iniobong Nyong (Oron/Udung Uko), Noah Frank Noah (Oruk Anan), Godwin Ezekiel Obot (Ukanafun), Edet Sylvanus Okon (Uruan), Otuakak Etim Emenyi (Urue Offong/Oruko) and Emmanuel Hogan (Uyo).
XtraNews/S.O
