A leading Presidential Aspirant of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and Minister, Niger Delta Affairs Ministry, Senator Godswill Akpabio has refuted news stories making the round about his withdrawal from the presidential race.
Senator Akpabio debunked the ‘paid news’ in a statement, titled “Who Is Afraid of Akpabio”, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Jackson Udom, and made available to REPORTERS AT LARGE on Wednesday evening.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to mischievously written news stories making the rounds by paid agents of some politicians, that the leading presidential aspirant, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has purportedly withdrawn from the presidential race. This is a joke carried too far.
“This is certainly the handiwork of those who are scared of contesting against Senator Godswill Akpabio.
“Senator Akpabio has resigned his appointment as Minister, Niger Delta Affairs Ministry and will soon submit his nomination form at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, in line with his party’s guidelines.
“For those behind these lies and falsehood, we advise that they should learn to live with the reality, that Senator Akpabio is fully in the race, not only for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket but to emerge the next democratically elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
REPORTERS AT LARGE earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered all members of his cabinet and appointees vying for electoral offices to resign on or before May 16, 2022.
The order came at Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by the President at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja.
