Prof. Christopher Ekong one of the defeated aspirants at the May 26 governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom says he has accepted his fate.
Speaking with newsmen in Uyo on Tuesday, Ekong, former Commissioner for Economic Development in the state, called on other defeated aspirants to sheath their swords and rally support for the winner, Mr. Akanimo Udofia.
Ekong urged the other defeated aspirants and all stakeholders not to allow personal ambitions, greed, hatred, self-centeredness, and unforgiving spirit to rob the party of victory at the main governorship election.
“Obong Akanimo Udofia has been declared winner of APC governorship primary in Akwa Ibom."
“I have since accepted the result as declared by the party."
“I want to use this opportunity to call on all other aspirants in the race to sheath their swords and open the doors for reconciliation and healing to work with the flag bearer,’’ Ekong said.
“I did not participate in the race to be easily compromised, or be defrauded or short-changed in a race to offer the best leadership and governance solution to our beloved state."
“However, at the close of the event, one of the most accomplished sons of our great state emerged and was declared the democratically-preferred choice of our esteemed delegates at the polls."
“I have acted in the true spirit of sportsmanship, appreciated and as well, accepted the position and decision of the APC as being sacrosanct and supreme in the concluded exercise,’’ he added.
Ekong said he participated in the primary election and scored 21 votes while Udofia scored 1, 227 votes.
On the argument that Udofia joined the APC only recently, Ekong argued that as stipulated in Article 31(2) of the party’s constitution as amended, Udofia applied and National Working Committee (NWC) granted him a waiver to contest at the primary election.
Some aggrieved aspirants led by Sen. Ita Enang called a news conference on May 27 to ask for a cancellation of the May 26 exercise.
They asked the NWC to cancel the primary election as it was conducted without INEC representation.