Global Post Newspaper- The former candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Oron/Udunguko State Constituency in the March 12, 2016 Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly re-run election, Hon Victor Ini Okon, who withdrew for the candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), has debunked the allegation that he was bribed with N30 million to do so.
Hon Okon was to be the APC candidate in the March 12 re-run election, but however stepped down for the candidate of the PDP, Hon Effiong Okon Bassey, just a day to the election.
According to him, he withdrew from the race after due consultation with his family members and constituents.
"After due consultation with my family and immediate constituency, I have decided to withdraw from the re-run election fixed for tomorrow, March 12, 2016 for very personal reasons.
"I have also already resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC)", he had stated in a release issued at a press conference on Friday, March 11, 2016.
His decision as we earlier reported was said to have thrown the APC stalwarts into loggerheads with one another as they claimed that he received #30 billion bribe from his opponent and candidate of the PDP, Hon Bassey.
They had allegedly called on him to compensate the party executive members and his (Okon) supporters for his last minute withdrawal from the re-run election.
But speaking with reporters on the development, Hon Okon stated that nobody had given him a dime to withdraw from the race, even as he stated that he owe his former party, APC no explanation for the decision he took.
"Nobody gave me a dime to withdraw for Hon. Effiong Okon Bassey, not even Bassey himself.
"It may interest you all to know that I was once a PDP member and besides, I am an adult with the right sense to take whatever decision I deem fit and necessary.
"To this end, let me say that I owe APC no explanation", he stated.
Further investigation from Global Pilot Newspaper has revealed that Okon's withdrawal from the re-run election may not be unconnected with how unpopular APC has become, especially with the poor leadership style as exhibited at the national level by President Muhammadu Buhari.
His withdrawal according to pundits, also has a lot to do with the superlative performance of the PDP government in the state, led by Governor Udom Emmanuel.
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