CRN Bye-election : Akpagu thanks supporters, reveals why he withdraws from court

Prof. Zana Akpagu

A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Cross River State, Prof. Zana Akpagu who was contesting the forthcoming Cross River North Senate bye-election under the party's platform has formally ended his campaign.

Akpagu who is the outgoing Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Unical stated this during a "thank you" meeting with his supporters in Obudu earlier today.

He formally informed his supporters that after thorough consultation with his campaign council, they jointly agreed 

to discontinue with the suit filed in federal high court challenging the decision of the party not to forward his name as candidate to INEC after his overwhelming victory at the primary.

The Professor thanked his supporters for standing by him and believing in his ability to represent the senatorial district in the red chambers even as he appealed to them to remain loyal APC members as his ambition is not bigger than the unity of the party.

Explaining the reason for his decision, he noted that, having played a major role in uniting APC which was seriously factionalized, he didn't want his ambition to become the reason the party will tear apart again. 

According to him, he said "Let me start by welcoming you all to this important meeting tagged “Prof.  Zana Akpagu Thank you session with his supporters”. As we all know, this meeting has been  long overdue. Although, we’ve been meeting at the Campaign Council level but it was necessary that we sit like this as a family to evaluate, digest and discuss the latest development regarding our struggle as a people with common objective.

But before I continue, I want to thank you all,  my teaming supporters for standing by me up till this moment.  I can’t thank you enough for your support, patience and sticking together throughout this period.  When I look back and see the overwhelming number of people who believe in my ambition and ability to represent the good people of Cross River North Senatorial District in the Senate, I say, it can only be God. I  would have withered along the way without you.  Thank you. 

We went into the  Senate race with all our strength but politics is so dynamic that you can’t predict beyond the immediate.  I don’t want to take you back to all that has happened which I know you’re already aware of.  The primary has come and gone, now it’s time to move on.

By now, majority of you should already be aware that our campaign council decided to withdraw our suits challenging the nomination of candidate by our great party, the All Progressive Congress, APC for the October 31st Cross River North bye-election. Though painful, we took this decision with so much courage in the interest of the party.  We have considered both the pro and coin and have decided that to continue to build the party, we must make some sacrifices as painful as this".

He added that "I’m a loyal party member like all of you, my supporters. I want to state emphatically that I wasn’t under any pressure to approve this decision.  It was solely the decision of the Campaign Council.  We were never desperate for the position as such we didn’t see our ambition as being bigger than the unity of the party". 

The APC leader appealed to "all our coordinators across the Senatorial district to as a matter of urgency, take down all our billboards.  This is necessary to avoid confusion as we edge closer to the election day. Also, all branded vehicles bearing our campaign slogan should be unbranded. 

I joined the race when the party was seriously divided and at war with itself.  My coming in helped in bringing people from different factions together.  If not for anything, the fact that we played a major role in achieving this is a huge plus for us.  Let’s continue building the party in this regard because for me , I don’t want my ambition to become the reason the party would return to the old ways of disunity.  Our strength as a party is in our unity and not division". 

Akpagu advised that "Let’s all continue to stick together as a united family and work for the success of the party. When the party succeeds, we all succeeds but if it fails, we have all failed". 

While encouraging his supporters not to feel pained by the decision as "God is supreme", he wished the party and it’s candidates in the two bye-elections the very best of luck".