APC Senatorial Primaries: Ekpere Demands to Be Declared Winner

An aspirant for Cross River Central Senatorial District, Barr. Mary Ekpere, has demanded to be declared the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries held on Monday.

Ekpere, former Director General of the National Center for Women Development (NCWD) Abuja, (now known as Maryam Babangida National Center for Women Development), said her claim was based on the fact that Oden Ibiang Ewa, another aspirant declared winner of the primaries, was not cleared by the APC Senate Screening Committee, consequently nullifying his participation and being announced as the winner.

Speaking at a press conference held in Abuja on Thursday, Ekpere disclosed that she had submitted her petition to the party’s Senate Appeals Committee, with her main prayer that she be declared the winner of the primaries, as she was the cleared aspirant with the highest number of votes.

According to the results announced by the Returning Officer, Barrister Eyo Nsa Ekpo, following the collation exercise conducted at the Ikom Local Government Area Council Hall, it was announced that Ewa received 32,426 votes; while Ekpere got 991 votes; as well as the incumbent senator, Eteng Jonah Williams, garnered 726 votes.

“The party screening committee did not clear Oden Ibiang Ewa, his name appeared in the list of senatorial aspirants who were not cleared as announced through official party channels. I was therefore surprised that the same individual showed up to participate in the primaries for which he was declared the winner. I was declared second with 991 votes, while Senator Eteng Jonah Williams was declared third.

“But I must state that Oden Ewa’s participation and declaration, if any, violates the primary rules of the APC and sections 85 and 86 of the Electoral Act 2026 and sections 71 and 72 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”

“For the legal and constitutional premises that I have set, I urge my party to respect the laws of the country and its regulations by canceling and declaring null and void the votes awarded to Oden Ibiang Ewa, having been disqualified from participating in the primaries.

“In justice and strict adherence to the law and rules of our party, I should hereby be declared the winner of the primaries and candidate of the APC for Cross River Senatorial District.

“I am a founding member of the APC, who remained committed to the ideals, progress and unity of the party, and this explains why I promptly resorted to internal mechanism to resolve an avoidable challenge created by the party by allowing a disqualified aspirant to contest primaries he was not authorized to contest,” he said.

When asked what her next course of action would be if the appeal committee did not grant her request, Ekpere expressed confidence that the committee will be fair and objective.

“Based on what I saw when I filed my petition on Wednesday, I believe the appeals commission will hear my matter on its merits. But if it doesn’t, I will consult party leaders, my supporters and voters on actions to take. I am running based on the people’s demands and they determine my actions and decisions,” he said.