Opposition parties in Essien Udim Local Government Area, have collapsed into the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Essien Udim was a hotbed of opposition in the 2019 elections.
At the PDP campaign rally in the area on Wednesday, which had a massive turnout, Sir Nse Ntuen, a former strongman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), presented several chieftains of the APC, Labour Party, ACP and other parties who defected to the PDP.
Sir Ntuen, who is a former Member of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and two-time Chairman of Essien Udim Local Government, explained that they all returned to the PDP because of the good work of Governor Udom Emmanuel and the PDP Gubernatorial Candidate, Pastor Umo Eno, whom he described as a good man and a man of character.
He thanked the PDP for nominating a son of Abak Federal Constituency for the first time as a senatorial candidate after 62 years, noting that Essien Udim alone, in Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency, had produced three senators.
Prince Ukpong Akpabio, the PDP House of Assembly Candidate, thanked Governor Emmanuel for the trust in him and described Pastor Eno as a knowledgeable man and a square peg in a square hole, having sat beside him in meetings of the State Executive Council.
Barr. Ese Umoh, the sitting House of Assembly Member, declared that Essien Udim “remains a PDP local government area and nothing in the world will make Essien Udim to change that at any given election.”
Mr Anthony Luke, the Chairman of Essien Udim Local Government, said the election in Essien Udim was finished because Pastor Eno and PDP had no opposition in the area.
Engr. Oliver Ebong, the PDP campaign coordinator in Essien Udim, who spoke on behalf of the elders, recalled how they overcame tough opposition including violence to deliver PDP in 2019 and said they were determined to do more in the forthcoming elections.
In his speech, Pastor Eno thanked Essien Udim people for the massive show of support.
He pledged to build on the foundation laid by Governor Emmanuel in order to take Akwa Ibom into what he called the golden years.
Pastor Eno promised to award contract for the construction of the collapsed bridge linking Atan Midim in Essien Udim with Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, when elected into office as Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
He also promised to create jobs, establish a skill acquisition centre and work with the investor in the sugar factory to get the place running.
Prince Chris Abasieyo, MNIPR,
Spokesperson, PDP/Umo Eno Campaign Council
19012023
