A day after winning a major political victory through the courts, the former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Lord Akpabio said he has forgiven the people behind his political trails.
Mr. Akpabio stated this on Sunday at a thanksgiving Mass at St. Lucy Catholic Church in his country home, Ukana, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The mass was held to celebrate the Supreme Court verdict which meant Mr. Akpabio is the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for the 2023 election in Akwa Ibom North-west District.
Mr. Akpabio and retired deputy inspector-general of police, Udom Ekpoudom, have been engaged in a long-running battle over who should be the APC candidate for the district.
Mr. Ekpoudom won the party’s early primaries monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Mr. Akpabio had interest in contesting Nigeria’s presidential election but resigned for Bola Tinubu in the midst of the APC presidential election in June last year. Furthermore, the APC faction in Akwa Ibom soon organized another senatorial primary in Akwa Ibom North-west where Mr. Akpabio was declared the winner.
The APC forwarded the name of Mr. Akpabio to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a senate candidate for the district but the Commission rejected it on the grounds of lack of primary monitoring.
Mr. Akpabio challenged the action of INEC at the Federal High Court and got a verdict in his favor – the electoral body was told to accept the name of the former minister as a senate candidate.
His opponent, Mr. Ekpoudom went to the Court of Appeal and secured the annulment of the lower court’s decision.
Dissatisfied with the judgment of the court of appeal, Mr. Akpabio appealed to the High Court which on Friday overturned the judgment of the court of appeal in his favour.
‘I have forgiven everything’
Speaking on political issues, the former governor of Akwa Ibom said he does not hold any grudge against anyone for what he did. “I have decided to forgive everything,” he said.
Mr. Akpabio’s views are in a statement posted on Facebook by media assistant, Jackson Udom.
Mr. Akpabio, who was at the church service with his wife, Unoma, and some of his supporters, thanked God for seeing him through in his quest to become the APC candidate.
He told the congregation that this is the second thanksgiving after the apex court verdict.
“I stand before all of you today, thanking God Almighty for our victory in the Supreme Court. When all hope seemed gone, our Lord came through for me and that is why I came to thank Him because He is the only one worthy of praise.
“When the judgment was delivered on Friday, I left my home in Abuja to go to church to thank for the victory. When I came today (Sunday) I decided to make the presence of God my first port of call, not for nothing, but to tell Him , that I am grateful for his grace and blessings on me,” Mr. Akpabio said.
Mr. Akpabio was elected senator in 2015 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He later defected to the APC in 2018, where he contested for a second term in 2019 but lose by the PDP candidate, Christopher Ekpenyong, who is a former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom.
Mr. Akpabio’s main rival in the senatorial election is his former political ally, Emmanuel Enoidem, who is the PDP candidate.
Support the integrity and credibility of PREMIUM TIMES journalism
Good journalism costs a lot of money. But only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, responsible democracy, and transparent government.
For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider making a modest contribution to this noble effort.
By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help keep journalism relevant and ensure it remains free and available to all.
contribute
AD TEXT: Call Willie – +2348098788999
