Akpabio loses senatorial seat to PDP

Senator Godswill Akpabio has lost his senatorial seat in Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial district to a former deputy governor of the state, Christopher Ekpenyong, with 35,057 votes.

Akpabio, who is a former Senate minority leader under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former governor of Akwa Ibom State, polled 83,158 votes to lose to his opponent, Christopher Ekpenyong, who scored 118,215 votes.

Speaking at INEC headquarters, Uyo, the returning officer said, “I, Prof. Peter Ogban hereby certify that I am the returning officer for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District for the election held on the 23rd day of February 2019”.

He gave the number of registered voters in the election as 655,525; accredited voters 218,493l total valid votes 202,387; and rejected votes 7,307.

Similarly, the candidate of the PDP, Nsikak Ekong, won the Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara/Essien Udim Federal Constituency seat with 29,849 votes while Emmanuel Akpan of the All Progressives Congress had 22,052 votes.

Dr Daniel Udo who was the returning officer of Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara/Essien Udim Federal Constituency announced the result.

The result of the senatorial and House of Representatives elections was to be announced at the INEC office in Ikot Ekpene by the provisions of the Electoral Act but due to heightened security challenge and the threat of burning down the INEC office, the results were announced in Uyo.