Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has advised candidates of other political parties, who lost in the 2015 general elections not to waste their time and money on going to the tribunal seeking for elections cancellation.
The governor pointed out that any candidate that has not been endorsed by the labour force in the state for governorship and other elected positions, will not win in any election.
Akpabio, who said this during the 2015 May Day celebration in Uyo on Friday, stated that the workers had in 2014 assembled themselves and by early 2015, long before the March 28 and April polls, endorsed the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, as governorship candidate of the state.
According to Akpabio, 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.
He insisted that no one can make it on his own unless the owners of the state, whom he said are the workers, endorse such a person.
He said, “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”.
The governor said, “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 solidarise with the governor-elect of the state and all the elected representatives and ensure peace and harmony in Akwa Ibom State”, he said.
Akpabio, who will be going to the senate at the end of his tenure on May 29, stated that there was an internal arrangement that the next governor of Akwa Ibom State should emerge from Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, having had indigenes from Akwa Ibom North East and North West respectively as governors of the state in the past.