The battle for the soul of Akwa Ibom State hotly contested by three major governorship aspirants under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2019 general elections moved from Uyo and berthed in Aso Rock, Abuja for resolution.
So far, expectations to clinch ticket for the coveted position are high, anxiety among supporters of the party’s contenders and electorates in the state is high and the battle to capture Hilton Mansion, Uyo is fierce.
For the party, the spark for the position was further rekindled and the hope renewed by the defection of Senator Godswill Akpabio who is representing Akwa Ibom North West, from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to APC.
Before now, APC which had been seen as a pariah by many Akwa Ibom people due mainly to the frequent killings of people in other states by the suspected Fulani herdsmen and other accompanying negative togas is gradually becoming a beautiful bride.
The entrance of Akpabio into the party has changed its narrative and of course has elevated the status of the party to a mega opposition in a state where PDP was seen as a religion.
An APC chieftain who did not want his name in print said “PDP under the leadership of the governor as the sole candidate looks like a tottering baby. Everyday, the party attacks Akpabio using such social media as Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapps, local newspapers and radio stations. Is Akpabio running for governorship? It appears the party has no programmes for Akwa Ibom people.”
In a telephone interview with Straightnews, Edet Eyo Bassey, the immediate state past publicity of APC confirmed that five members of the party in the state had collected their nomination forms and expression of interest.
According to him, “The APC governorship contenders are Nsima Ekere, Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC; Senator James Akpan Udoedeghe, a one-time Governorship candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN in 2011, Barr. Bassey Dan-Abia a one-time Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state and Mr. Edet Efretuei, son to Engr. Okon Efretuei who was a state commissioner for Works.”
Investigations by Straightnews show that each of the trio had bought and submitted the party’s nomination form costing N22 million and paid for expression of interest put at N2.5 million totalling N24.5 million.
To resolve the contentious governorship issue among those who bought the forms and are laying claims to the office based on their supposed contributions to the party, President Muhammadu Buhari summoned a meeting of all the stakeholders on Monday, September 17 to nail the avalanche of aspirations on the bud.
Though the meeting presided over by the President was attended by Adams Oshiomhole, APC national chairman and other bigwigs of the party did not anoint a candidate, the president’s body language was clear to some aspirants that the office must be occupied by one person.
From the home front, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the state’s party leader; Don Etiebet, the party’s Board of Trustees, BOT member; Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly (Senate); Umana Okon Umana, Managing Director of Oil and Gas Zone Authority (OGZA), Professor Ini Udoaka, Eseme Eyiboh; Abom Tony Esu, Obong Sunny Jackson, Mrs Valerie Ebe, former deputy governor; Senator Eme Ekaete and Ini Okopido, the party’s chairman, among others.
Speaking at the occasion, Etiebet and Akpabio pleged their readiness and commitment to work for the emergence of the President in the next elections as well as to shore up the success of the party at the polls.
However, the state contigents numbering more than 30 were at the meeting that lasted for hours but did not issue a communiqué to decide on who will be the adopted candidate.
Unlike other states that have decided to use direct primary while others opt for indirect primary, Akwa Ibom State has opted primary primary in deciding its governorship candidate.
Straightnews discovered that APC in the state has not adopted a zoning formula, yet allowing a governorship candidate to emerge from Uyo Senatorial District may diminish the party’s fortunes ahead of 2019 general elections.
Ekere and Dan-Abia hail from Eket Senatorial District. Similarly, the incumbent PDP Governor hails from the district too and it is said that the district has one term left to allow another take over. Udoedehe is the sole aspirant from Uyo Senatorial District.
Straightnews learnt that the party had bought and presented a nomination form for Ekere at Qua Iboe Church Primary School, Eket during endorsement rally for President Buhari and Ekere on Tuesday, September 11.
A source close to Ekere told Straightnews that “some bigwigs in the party have sealed a deal with him to do one term as a governor in the office. Thereafter, he will proceed to Senate to represent Eket Senatorial District in the Red Chamber. Ekere has consented to the deal. ”
Perhaps irked by the move, Udoedehe who did not attend the rally in Eket was said to have kick started his governorship campaign in a battle meant to wrestle power from the incumbent PDP governor in the state.
In the governorship race too, Barr. Dan-Abia is not a push-over as rumour mill is abuzz with many stories.
“Prior to 2015 PDP primary in the state, he was placed second in the list of favourites for Hilton Mansion. Udom Emmanuel was first in the list. Nsima Ekere was third while Ekpenyong Ntekim was fourth,” a source close to the immediate past governor of the state told Straightnews.
“It is improper to dismiss Dan-Abia with a wave of hand in the race. He has his strong backers. He has started wide consultations. He could spring a surprise,” the source concluded.
From all indications, some APC kingpins in Uyo Senatorial District are said to be re-strategising ahead of 2023 general elections when other political parties have clandestinely reached a consensus to zone the governorship to.
Among the persons who are being fingered for APC governorship in 2023 elections and their primary strongholds are James Udoedehe, Umana Okon Umana and Ita Enang, Straightnews investigation showed.
A source that confided in the online newspaper said “All things being equal, Udoedehe may rely on Uyo and Uruan as his strongholds; Umana may depend on Etinan, Nsit Ubium and Nsit Atai while Enang will rely on Itu and Ibiono Ibom as his strongholds in slugging out for the governorship seat.”
In 2015, the state recorded 1,688,000 registered voters with Akwa Ibom Northwest Senatorial District posting 614,000, North East got 606,000 and Akwa Ibom South 468,000. The state added 303,000 new voters during the just-concluded registration of voters.
To win, a candidate would have to sweep one senatorial district and split votes from others. The three senatorial districts will be battlegrounds for the PDP and APC governorship candidates.
