Why I can’t step down for Akpabio – Ex-DIG, Ekpoudom

A former Deputy Inspector General of Police and senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North-West under the platform of All Progressives Congress, DIG Udom Ekpoudom (retd), has described as laughable rumours making the rounds that he has stepped down for Senator Godswill Akpabio.

He said he would be chased out of the land if he stepped down.

Ekpoudom said though there had been pressure on him, he would never succumb to such pressure because it would be seen as betraying his people.

The retired DIG who spoke on Friday in his office at Ediene, Abak Local Government Area, while reacting to insinuations that some elders have prevailed on him to step down for Akpabio, said his senatorial ambition was not his personal project but the project for the redemption of Abak five communities which have not had any shot at the National Assembly for the past 16-years.

“It is laughable to say that I stepped down for anyone, some people have been appealing to me to step down but I have been saying no, and will continue to say no because it is not my project precisely but the peoples’ project. I don’t want to be chased away from Abak Federal Constituency.

“I don’t want to betray my people, you can even imagine now, for 16 years this part of Akwa Ibom has not produced a senator, it is only Ikot Ekpene which had produced five senators and somebody wants to come in again, it is not possible. Abak-5 is ready or the whole Ikot Ekpene senatorial district is ready. I look at those coming to tell me to step down as enemies of the Abak federal constituency.

” Even if they want to offer me the head of state, I won’t accept it. All I want is to get what belongs to us. If Abak loses now, it would affect the whole federal constituency and senatorial district.”