Our attention has been drawn to a sponsored news report by an online news platform, purporting that former Minister, Niger Delta Affairs and National Vice Chairman of the APC PCC, Senator Godswill Akpabio, had assured the wife of the Governorship candidate of the YPP in Akwa Ibom State, Mrs Nkiru Imaobong Bassey of his readiness to get her husband, Senator Bassey Albert out of the Correctional facility in Ikot Ekpene, if only he decamped to the APC
The above statement, said to have been made by Senator Akpabio to Bassey’s wife during the 2022 Carol Service held by student’s of St. John Paul College, is simply mischief and lies carried too far. It is, to say the least, a clear handiwork of political jobbers and their paymasters, seeking relevance where they can’t find any.
For the records, there was no time Senator Akpabio made such a statement whether in his closet or at any public gathering of his supporters that he had secured the support of the Presidential flag bearer of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure his victory at the Supreme Court, that of the APC governorship candidate Mr Akan Udofia and the release of the YPP governorship candidate.
Senator Akpabio as a lawyer of over 30 years, believes strongly in the judiciary and its ability to dispense justice to all manner of people without fear or favour and would never have said that Asiwaju Tinubu had assured him and Akan Udofia of victory at the apex court, as well as the conditional release of Senator Albert when he is fully aware of the imperative of the Independence of the Judiciary in a democracy.
It would be recalled that Senator Akpabio, immediately after the Appeal Court judgement which ordered INEC to delist his name as the APC candidate for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, had filed an Appeal which gave him Leave to challenge the said Order at the Supreme Court. It is therefore, nonsensical and the height of irresponsibility for a supposed newspaper to hit the news stands with blackmail, falsehood and lies about a matter that is pending in the Supreme Court.
The former Senate Minority Leader, on hearing the news of Senator Bassey’s conviction by the Federal High Court, has only consistently prayed to God that the YPP governorship candidate gets justice at the higher court in the land.
Attempting to colour the attendance of Mrs Albert at the Carol Service with dirty politics and lies should never be heard among decent people and we challenge the NNL and its paymasters to produce any evidence of their jaundiced publication where Senator Akpabio made such unfounded statements.
It is public knowledge that at any political gathering Akpabio attends, he drums support for the party’s candidates at all levels and assures them that he would be on the ballot as well as Mr Akan Udofia in 2023.
We are very much aware that this is political season, some expired politicians would want to exploit the period by smearing and lying against their perceived opponents for unmerited political mileage.
We also know that the physical support given to the Presidential candidate of the APC by Senator Akpabio and his teeming supporters is giving his detractors sleepless nights and the only way out for them to vent their spleen, is to sponsor lies and blackmail against the National Vice Chairman of the APC PCC.
Once again, let us assure members of the APC in Akwa Ibom State that we are confident as a party that we would have justice at the higher courts in the land. With their prayers and support for the party we will win the 2023 elections both at the state and national levels. We will never be distracted by the antics of nay sayers who are very much in their minority to make us remove our eyes on the goal. We would remain focused, steadfast and dutiful in prosecuting our campaigns to ensure that APC wins at all levels.
Jackson Udom,
Chief Press Secretary To Senator Godswill Akpabio.
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