Shortly after endorsing the candidacy of Senator Godswill Akpabio for the senatorial seat of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Udom Ekpoudom has taken a chieftain of the party, Atuekong Don Etiebet, over his public declaration of support for the candidate of the opposition party.
Speaking with newsmen in Uyo on his decision to support Akpabio for the senatorial seat, he blasted the chieftain of his party and a former Minister of Petroleum, Chief Don Etiebet, for leading others to endorse a candidate of a rival party.
He stressed: ” He (Etiebet) did not consult me. He just called and said that they wanted to have a meeting of Abak-5 stakeholders. I walked out when I discovered it was to endorse Enoidem of PDP. It was a big insult.
“I am from Abak-5, and when they said they wanted to adopt Enoidem, I asked, is that the way to behave?; that I have been told that you have been having other meetings before, but you never invited me or carried me along only for you to invite me for this?. I walked out because I knew they were doing an unlawful thing”.
Responding to whether Akpabio had greased his palm before he decided to support him, he said: “I am not rich, but at the same time, I am not a poor man. I am content with what God has blessed me with. I spent a lot of money in court, from Federal High Court to Appeal Court and then to Supreme Court; Godswill has never given me a dime”.
According to a statement made available to newsmen shortly after his rapprochement with Akpabio, Ekpoudom refuted insinuations that he planned to decamp to another party on Monday, addressing them after a closed-door meeting with Akpabio in his Uyo residence.
“I am going nowhere. I will campaign for the victory of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Akan Udofia and all other members of the party. I will not deviate from the principles of the party”, Ekpoudom said.
