Senator representing Akwa Ibom North West District in the National Assembly, Godswill Akpabio, has served his elected successor, Chris Ekpenyong, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) a copy of letter summoning him to appear before the election petition tribunal.
Ekpenyong acknowledged the receipt of the summon from the tribunal’s secretary on Tuesday in Uyo, the state capital.
However, the senator-elect said he was not perturbed by Akpabio’s summon.
He told his teeming supporters: “Remain calm as your mandate has been rescued by the divine arrangement for peace, development and even spread of the dividends of democracy to thrive.
“You should not be afraid of Akpabio, your mandate is secured in me. The God that allowed your votes to be counted will stand by us to get justice at the tribunal and in various courts.”
Akpabio, who currently represents Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District (Akwa Ibom North-West), had taken his petition to the state election’s petition tribunal.
The tribunal sitting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, would soon begin hearing on all post 2019 general elections’ matters.
Akpabio, former Senate Minority Leader, is seeking to upturn the outcome of the February 23 National Assembly poll, for which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declared Ekpenyong, winner.
In announcing Ekpeyong winner, the Returning Officer (RO), Dr. Nsikak Senam of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) Department of Communication Art, said he polled 118, 215 votes as against Akpabio’s over 83,158.
But Akpabio faulted the results, claiming however, that result sheets from INEC office showed that he secured 138, 256 votes over Ekpenyong’s 123,843.
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