» Akpabio Advises Losers Of 2015 Polls Against Wasting Their Money On Tribunals

Senator-elect and Governor of Akwa Ibom
State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, has advised
candidates of other political parties who
were defeated in the 2015 general elections
not to waste their time and money on
tribunal seeking for cancellation of the polls.
This was as he noted that any candidate
that failed to get the endorsement of the
labour force in the state for governorship
and other elective positions will not win in
any election.
Speaking during this year’s May Day
celebration in Uyo on Friday, Akpabio stated
that the workers had in 2014 assembled
themselves and by early 2015, long before
the first elections, endorsed the Peoples
Democratic Party candidate, Mr. Udom
Emmanuel, as governorship candidate of
the state.
While observing that the labour force in the
state represents voters in every family, in
every unit, in every ward, and in every local
government across the entire state, the
Governor asserted that no one can make it
on his own unless the owners of the state,
the workers’ endorse you.
According to him, “For those who lost the
elections and are still clamouring to go to
tribunal, I want to remind them that
nobody, I repeat nobody has ever been
governor of Akwa Ibom State except the
labour force in Akwa Ibom approved of
him in advance.
“In 2007 the labour force in Akwa Ibom
State endorsed me; in 1999 the labour force
endorsed former governor Victor Attah; in
2003 the labour force still endorsed Obong
Attah for a second term. In 2007 the labour
force in advance endorsed me despite the
fact that we were 57 aspirants and I was
successful. And in 2011, the labour force,
despite all the politicking came together and
endorsed me for a second term and I won.
“In 2014, the labour force came together
and by early 2015, long before the first
elections, they endorsed Udom Emmanuel.
The labour force represents voters in every
family, in every unit, in every ward, and in
every local government across the entire
state: you cannot make it on your own
unless the owners of the state, the workers
endorse you.”
Akpabio continued, “So, today we have a
governor-elect; my appeal to you all is
forget about tribunal; do not waste money
in the tribunal because you cannot change
the hands of the clock.
“God has spoken through the people, God
has spoken through the workers, come
back and join your people to build your
state. Let us solidarize with the governor-
elect of the state and all the elected
representatives and ensure peace and
harmony in Akwa Ibom State,” he said.
The outgoing Governor disclosed that there
was an internal arrangement that the next
governor of Akwa Ibom State should come
from Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District,
having had governors from Akwa Ibom
North-East and North-West respectively.