APC’ll reclaim its stolen mandate in A-Ibom says Ekere

By Chioma Onuegbu

Senator Godswill Akpabio, former Senate Minority Leader, yesterday, said  he did not lose Saturday’s election despite the declaration of Chris Ekpeyong of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Akpabio

According to results declared by INEC, Ekpeyong polled 118,215 votes ahead of Akpabio of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who secured 83,158 votes in the Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial district election.

Similarly,  the APC, governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State, Obong Nsima Ekere, assured the party’s teeming supporters that APC will reclaim all its stolen mandates, adding that the party and security agencies were in possession of evidences that the elections was rigged by the PDP.

Speaking to journalists after the certificates of return were presented to President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja, yesterday, Akpabio described the outcome of the senatorial election as a temporary setback.

“I won, I won, it is a temporary setback that is why there are processes. If for instance you feel you were cheated or there was wrong collation, you resort to the court. For me, I did not fail, I can’t fail. I believe strongly that there must have been some wrong collation somewhere, so those things will be corrected.

“We have processes in the election; it is from one stage now, we have registration, you have to vote, you have to collate and if there are mistakes anywhere, you go to court and get back your mandate.

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“My mandate is solid and waiting for me. You know that I cannot fail election, I cannot fail. Do you expect me to fail? Won’t you love me to be your senator? I can’t fail.”

Ekere at his campaign ground along Edet Akpan Avenue, Uyo, when he addressed party supporters said,  “It is an endorsement. What Nigerians are saying is that Mr. President you have done well. What Nigerians have said is that Mr. President thank you.” for the Calabar-Ikot Ekpene-Itu dualization. Nigerians have said Mr. President thank you for the fight against corruption.”

Ekere added, “Let me thank the over 15million Nigerians who have reinstated and reinforced their belief in the capacity of Buhari to lead us for another four years, particularly let me thank the over 175,000 Akwa Ibom people who voted for Mr. President.”

He urged members of the party across the state to remain firm and resolute in their support for the party as the governorship/State House of Assembly elections come up next Saturday.