The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom State, Mike Igini, has stated emphatically that the immediate past Minister for Niger Delta, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, cannot be candidate for Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District come 2023.

He made the declaration in a recent chat with newsmen in Uyo, saying “the senatorial primary took place on May 27.

“What we are hearing or reading in the newspaper was alleged to have taken place on (June) 9th. Because at this time, we were even in Abuja holding an INEC meeting but on Friday morning we heard breaking news. What news is breaking?

“The train had left the station on the 27th of last month. What are you talking about? You labelled it a rerun.

“A rerun has meaning in electoral management. You can only have a rerun when there’s an inconclusive election or stalemated in which case you’re going for a rerun and in a rerun, it can only be among those who participated in the first election. That is the truth of the matter. So I think that we have moved on beyond that.”

The state REC Boss however declared that DIG Udom Ekpoudum (retd) remains the candidate for Akwa Ibom North-West (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial District because he is the person that was validly elected.

©Umoh-Obong Kingsley