PDP kicks Akpabio out of senate

Godswill Akpabio will not be returning to the senate to represent Akwa Ibom north-west senatorial district.

The senator, who contested under the All Progressives Congress (APC), lost to Chris Ekpenyong of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with a wide margin.

He secured only 67,487 votes as against 136,373 votes for Ekpenyong.

TheCable had reported the former governor’s likely defeat after he lost in nine of 10 local government areas announced earlier.

‘UNCOMMON DEFEAT’

Akpabio’s defeat was shocking to many being that the senator was believed to have a massive influence in the state.

As a former governor, he prides himself as the “uncommon senator” whose “uncommon defection” from the PDP took many by surprise.

He had also resigned his position as the senate minority leader and joined the APC with a large number of supporters from the PDP. The senator is widely respected as one of the most influential politicians in Akwa Ibom and in the south-south region.

• -TheCable