Ahead of the January 25, 2020 Rerun Election for the Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, has replaced Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio with Rt Hon. Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo as the Senatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC for the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District rerun election.
It would be recalled that the Akpabio, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs in November withdrew from the race for Akwa Ibom North-West, stating his current engagement.
He also requested his party, the APC to send his replacement to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The Appeal Court had earlier ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to conduct a rerun election in Essien Udim Local Government Area within 90 days from the date of Judgement to determine the real winner of the Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District election held on 23rd of February, 2019.
Consequently, Senator Ekpenyong who was returned as the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, will be contesting the rerun election with Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo, the All Progressive Congress APC Candidate for the repeat poll in Essien Udim, one of the 10 LGAs of the zone to determine the winner.