By Andy Esiet, Calabar
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State, have adopted the Caretaker National Secretary of the party, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe (Ph.D) as its governorship candidate for 2023 election in the state.
This adoption is coming barely a week the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders had announced the Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Pastor Umo Eno as it’s preferred aspirant to fly the flag of the party for the State’s 2023 governorship race.
The APC in a communique issued on February 4, at the end of its stakeholders’ meeting in Uyo for and on behalf of Akwa Ibom APC stakeholders said, “the motion moved by Atuekong Don Etiebet (CON), member Board of Trustee (BOT) and National Caucus of our great party supported by Archbishop Samuel Akpan, a former governorship candidate in 2015 that, Pastor Senator Akpanudoedehe be adopted as our Governorship candidate for APC in Akwa Ibom state for the 2023 election was unanimously carried and the Senator urged to run for the office of the Governor of Akwa Ibom state on the platform of APC in 2023”.
With this development, political analysts have said that the governorship primary of the party in the state expected to come up early in the year will be a mere formality if this position by the stakeholders stand.
The communique which was signed by the former Petroleum Minister, former National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Member Board of Trustee and National Caucus of APC Atuekong Don Etiebet; former Deputy Governor, Obong Nsima Ekere; the Managing Director Oil & Gas Free Zone and former APC Governorship Candidate 201OObong Umana Okon Umana; one time Social Democratic Party (SDP) Governorship Candidate, Chief Ekong Etuk; former Acting Chairman/MD NDDC and Commissioner 1, Federal Law Reform Commission(SS), Barr. Bassey Dan Abia (Snr) and 35 others, said “we appreciate our son for his tenacity to hold-forth and strong to his duty and responsibility as the National Secretary of our great Party, enduring the pressures on all sides to ensure the entrenchment of 34 out of the 36 APC State Executive Committees in the country”.
The special meeting which held at Etiebet’s residence with 150 members from the three Senatorial districts of the state, also felicitated with Mr. Augustine Ekanem on his inauguration as the State Chairman of Akwa Ibom APC on February 3, 2022 by the Chairman of the Care Taker Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) in Abuja and also “appreciate him for promptly inaugurating other members of the State Executive Committee in Uyo on February 4, 2022. The stakeholders wish him and his State Executive members a successful tenure in the pilot of the Party affairs in Akwa Ibom State”.
Among other things, the APC in the state also declared solidarity with the administration of President Mohammadu Buhari, saying, “we the under listed, for and on behalf of Akwa Ibom APC stakeholders hereby pass a vote of confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), for being there for Akwa Ibom state in many significant ways including but not limiBuhari the “refund of N78 Billion being money spent by Akwa Ibom state Government for the reconstruction of Federal Roads in the state.
“Refund of N171.2 Billion to the Government of Akwa Ibom state in respect of Excess Crude Account. Paris Club Refunds of over N40 Billion to the Government of Akwa Ibom state.
“Exceptional appointments of Akwa Ibom sons and daughters into Federal Government Boards and Parastatals”.
The party commended the National Chairman of the CECPC, the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, for “the able, effective and impressive manner he and his team have satisfactorily conducted the affairs of the party and fulfilled the core mandate of its assignment which is convening the National Convention of the Party now scheduled for the February 26, 2022”.
