Akwa Ibom: Senate Swears-in Ekpenyong For Second Time

The Senate on Thursday swore-in Christoper Ekpenyong as the senator representing Akwa-Ibom North-west in the National Assembly.

Naija News reports that Senator Godswill Akpabio who is now the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs contested on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against Ekpenyong of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

This is the second time Mr Ekpenyong is being sworn-into the ninth Senate by the President of the Senate.

Recall that the APC and Akpabio had withdrawn from the rerun elections in Essien Udim LGA of Akwa Ibom state.

The state Chairman of the party, Mr Ini Okopido, had stated that the APC withdrew due to a perceived bias of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state.

He expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the electoral umpire ahead of Saturday’s election.

According to Okopido, both Senator Akpabio whose candidacy was replaced with Ekperikpe Ekpo for the Senatorial District election and Nse Ntuen for Essien Udim State Constituency will not participate in the elections.

He also accused the head of INEC in the state, Mike Igini, of showing bias towards the party, stressing that the electoral officers will not conduct a fair election.