Fresh facts have emerged that despite the withdrawal of Senator Godswill Akpabio from the Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial rerun, the re-election of Chris Ekpenyong is not yet a done deal after all.

Ekpenyong, a former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom, is Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the election. The rerun which has been fixed for January 25, will hold in Essien Udim local government.

Apart from being Akpabio’s council area and stronghold, the voting strength for the locality alone is put at 126,000 which is higher than the 118,215 votes polled by Ekpenyong in the poll.

With the withdrawal of Akpabio from the race, many would have thought that winning would be an easy task for senator Ekpenyong. But checks by Igbere TV shows that reverse is the case.

Already, a coalition of major opposition political parties and power brokers in the state, with top businessmen as sponsors, have emerged to wrestle power from the PDP senator.

To achieve more, the coalition is seeking the blessings of Senator Akpabio, who is now a minister, to cripple the PDP and its candidate’s chances in the election.

A senior aide of the honourable minister, who spoke to our correspondent over the telephone, confirmed the development.

“Due to circumstances, His Excellency (Akpabio) may be out of the race physically but he is still 100 per cent in the race 'spiritually', his pride is at stake. He can not fold his hands and watch Ekpenyong and PDP ridicule him in his backyard”, said the aide.

The rerun election is to be conducted strictly in Essien Udim, Akpabio’s council area which is totally out of the jurisdiction for the PDP candidate, who is from Obot Akara local government.

Checks by Igbere TV on Sunday shows that the Senator won't be voting on the election day, neither would there be opportunity for him to influence the outcome, coming from an entirely different local government.

Investigations by this online medium equally shows that majority of other political party candidates for the Akwa Ibom North-West poll, are from Akpabio’s Essien Udim.

Comrade Imoh Ekpo, chairman Coalition of Senatorial District Candidates, Ikot-Ekpene senatorial district (Mega Party of Nigeria), confirmed the development.

He said, “I'm fully convinced that Essien Udim people will never leave their own sons from the council and be voting candidate from another local government... This election is going to be conducted in just their LGA so I am certain they will take the lead.

“The chances of Chris Ekpenyong returning as senator is very slim. Don't forget that the (126,000) voting strength in Essien Udim is big enough to declare anybody winner in any given election.”

Igbere TV reliably gathered that people of the locality have met with other political parties and mobilizing heavily to deliver a block vote for a particular candidate from Abak3. Abak3 is said to have been marginalized for a long time and stakeholders in the area see this as opportunity to correct the injustice.

Already, a high-level committee has been set up comprising of prominent grassroot politicians as mobilization chairmen with the mandate to mobilize at least 500 voters per unit for the elections.

Essien Udim local government area has about 189 units, with 11 wards. At least 126,000 votes are expected from the local government January 25.

Meanwhile, there is a brewing rift between Senator Ekpenyong and his party, PDP hierarchy. The Senator is said to have failed to return home to familiarize with his constituents ahead Jan. 25, and with no viable project to boast with in the constituency.

Our source said the ruling PDP in Akwa Ibom had some time requested for funds to prosecute the election but the senator rebuffed the party leadership.

His performance in the February 2019 election is said to be largely on the goodwill and effort of Governor Udom Emmanuel, but with the Governor’s second term mandate securely in the kitty following the Supreme court verdict, and Akpabio out of the race, insiders say Udom does not want Ekpeyong back.

Contacted, a source close to the senator’s office, who pleaded anonymity said Ekpenyong has been calling on his supporters to give him sympathy vote owing to the demise of his wife.

“His Excellency, Senator Chris Ekpenyong representing Akwa Ibom North-West has been very relaxed and reluctant about the (forthcoming) polls.

“He has been begging for sympathy votes from his supporters, claiming he has been conducting the burial of his wife which he said cost him a whole lot of money.

“...But how can that be? Even his party (PDP) summoned and asked him for money, but he said he had no money to part with. He is maybe waiting to ride on the governor’s goodwill again. But Mr. Governor is not on the ballot. So, how does he (Ekpenyong) hope to win?”, the source said.

http://igberetvnews.com/1228440/aibom-rerun-ekpeyong-may-return-despite-akpabios-withdrawal/

Lalasticlala Seun Mynd44

Lalasticlala

Ekpenyong is a stingy man. He cant win one vote without Gov Udom

There is still the 2/3 requirement for the Senatorial zone; apart form the APC, which of the other parties in the race meet the requirement? None of these other parties will inherit APC votes neither will PDP lose existing votes. Again, there may be 126,000 registered voters but unless there is some other-worldly force at work, not more than half of that number is likely to be accredited for elections so how does that work? Will they manufacture votes or force out voters? Some may have misplaced their voter's cards, be out of town, incapacitated, deceased, or just plain uninterested!

Anyway, let the rigging drama unfold.

Mr op,kindly answer these following questions: 1.what is the population of Essien Udim 2.What is the Voting population of d said LGA *****STOP SPREADING LIES MOD PLEASE BRING DOWN THIS ONE

MediaGuru36:


http://igberetvnews.com/1228440/aibom-rerun-ekpeyong-may-return-despite-akpabios-withdrawal/

Lalasticlala Seun Mynd44

ARE YOU DREAMING



The total number of registered voters in Easien Udim LGA as approved by INEC and the court is put at 19, 455votes against Akpabio's claimed 61k votes which has been kicked out by the court ....Presently the PDP candidate is leading with more than 38k votes



And in your dream u still believe PDP victory is not sealed ... Not Even Akpabio the second can upturn it , let alone others ....u must be suffering from HIGH FEVER....pls see your doctor quickly...I don't do politics , but I hate misinformation...

Enwhen:





ARE YOU DREAMING



The total number of registered voters in Easien Udim LGA as approved by INEC and the court is put at 19, 455votes against Akpabio's claimed 61k votes which has been kicked out by the court ....Presently the PDP candidate is leading with more than 38k votes



And in your dream u still believe PDP victory is not sealed ... Not Even Akpabio the second can upturn it , let alone others ....u must be suffering from HIGH FEVER....pls see your doctor quickly...I don't do politics , but I hate misinformation...

Stop misleading the public. Essien Udim has over 120k registered voters.

The 19k you're talking about is accreditated votes for last election.

This is Nigeria, anything can happen.

freeze001:
There is still the 2/3 requirement for the Senatorial zone; apart form the APC, which of the other parties in the race meet the requirement? None of these other parties will inherit APC votes neither will PDP lose existing votes. Again, there may be 126,000 registered voters but unless there is some other-worldly force at work, not more than half of that number is likely to be accredited for elections so how does that work? Will they manufacture votes or force out voters? Some may have misplaced their voter's cards, be out of town, incapacitated, deceased, or just plain uninterested!

Anyway, let the rigging drama unfold.

You this apc hater,you and fairfora are the same.anyway for the purpose of curbing your ignorance,that requirements apple to prrsidential and guber polls and not legislative polls mr

otuekong1:
Mr op,kindly answer these following questions:
1.what is the population of Essien Udim
2.What is the Voting population of d said LGA
*****STOP SPREADING LIES
MOD PLEASE BRING DOWN THIS ONE

Sir,your questions were already answered in the body of his post.please provide an alternative figure since you dispute that of the op

garfield1:

You this apc hater,you and fairfora are the same.anyway for the purpose of curbing your ignorance,that requirements apple to prrsidential and guber polls and not legislative polls mr

Why mention my name hia

Not an ordinary 'happy new year' greetings from you? It's 2020 bro and am focusing more on my business this year as workload would be much Na to read political news and pas, for now. Happy new year from my side.

Blessynokoro:


Stop misleading the public. Essien Udim has over 120k registered voters.

The 19k you're talking about is accreditated votes for last election.

This is Nigeria, anything can happen.

Wake up....


Even if Sen Akpabio is contesting nothing can happen because 106k is the number of people registered in Easien Udim LGA not that you and Akpabio's 120k kicked out by court and INEC, the number of those that collected PVC is less than 20k and the PDP candidate is has 38k leading gap....This issue has been setteld long time ago even on NL, where are u people living , I guess u be living in Sambiser forest to be coming up with this by this time when everybody is talking about the next general election...

fairfora:
Why mention my name hia

Not an ordinary 'happy new year' greetings from you? It's 2020 bro and am focusing more on my business this year as workload would be much Na to read political news and pas, for now. Happy new year from my side.

You shocked me there

Enwhen:



Wake up....


Even if Sen Akpabio is contesting nothing can happen because 106k is the number of people registered in Easien Udim LGA not that you and Akpabio's 120k kicked out by court and INEC, the number of those that collected PVC is less than 20k and the PDP candidate is has 38k leading gap....This issue has been setteld long time ago even on NL, where are u people living , I guess u be living in Sambiser forest to be coming up with this by this time when everybody is talking about the next general election...

Oga,there's no lga in Nigeria that has less than 50% pvc collection rate sir.total pvc collected will not be less than 70k

garfield1:

Oga,there's no lga in Nigeria that has less than 50% pvc collection rate sir.total pvc collected will not be less than 70k

Oga u have phone and Google do your job and proof me wrong with your figures... U can also get the Court's rulings on expected figure for the re run given by INEC, which is against those criminal figures by Akpabio.... Akpabio has move ahead with a more jiucy position I don't know why u people are still killing yourself unnecessarily....

garfield1:

Oga,there's no lga in Nigeria that has less than 50% pvc collection rate sir.total pvc collected will not be less than 70k

I just checked your moniker ....I remember u during the Bayelsa election as a member of the APC, there is no big deal about that, but my question for you is that is WHAT is your benefit if APC wins Senatorial election in Jigawa or Akwa Ibom...because I know that , these politicians switches party like changing underwears while stealing your future and u run after them like mumu...APC has won Bayelsa , what do u stand to gain ??, Is there any hope for the people of Bayelsa ??...were these APC guys in the SS not part of the former PDP u r fighting now , how am I sure u too we're not part of the PDP followers of yesterday ... When are we gonna wise up ...please Continue, we shall get there one day!!!

MediaGuru36:


http://igberetvnews.com/1228440/aibom-rerun-ekpeyong-may-return-despite-akpabios-withdrawal/

Lalasticlala Seun Mynd44

voluntary media hustling na every issue you must conjure bitterleaf soup without salt always taste am before you pass on

Blessynokoro:


Stop misleading the public. Essien Udim has over 120k registered voters.

The 19k you're talking about is accreditated votes for last election.

This is Nigeria, anything can happen.

Even Oruk Anam one of the biggest local govt cannot boast of having up to 120k registered voters

Chest beating, if PDP shares 2k each they'll queue up sharply to vote. It's not hunger but lack of principles

richidinho:


Even Oruk Anam one of the biggest local govt cannot boast of having up to 120k registered voters

Its never about population but mobilization to go and register

Complete trash! Senseless thread

garfield1:

Its never about population but mobilization to go and register

Ok...but during d governorship election, they delivered 25k votes as against Essien Udim's 6k

And the total number of registered voters in the two local govts were clearly recorded

garfield1:

You this apc hater,you and fairfora are the same.anyway for the purpose of curbing your ignorance,that requirements apple to prrsidential and guber polls and not legislative polls mr

Calm down and spell your words properly so you can make some sense, if that is possible. What is the 'APC hater' crap about? Is APC part of this election in question? Has Akpabio not bowed out and can APC make any substitutions now? Shut it please!

Wishful thinking. Op is clearly a apc supporter so i understand and sympathize with him but don't expect any miracles.

Well, anything can happen!

freeze001:


Calm down and spell your words properly so you can make some sense, if that is possible. What is the 'APC hater' crap about? Is APC part of this election in question? Has Akpabio not bowed out and can APC make any substitutions now? Shut it please!

If you had calmed down in the beginning,you wouldn't have uttered gibberish in the name of two third requirement,only hatred will take a man to such ridiculous extent.moreover,you serially peddle lies against apc.in the light of these and lack of a scintilla of fact to prove your false assertion,calmly shut it...... Boy

richidinho:


Ok...but during d governorship election, they delivered 25k votes as against Essien Udim's 6k

And the total number of registered voters in the two local govts were clearly recorded

In the 2011 and 2015 polls,they delivered over 80,000 votes

garfield1:

In the 2011 and 2015 polls,they delivered over 80,000 votes

Post the link pls