Aniefiok Christopher
National Assembly candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom have appealed to their constituents to vote for the party during the forthcoming elections, assuring them of more dividends of democracy.
The APC candidate for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, Senator Godswill Akpabio made the call Wednesday during flag-off of the ward tour at Ikot Afanga in Oruk Anam Local Government Area for electoral wards in Oruk axis.
Flanked by Barr. Freedom Ibritam, the APC House of Representatives candidate for Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, Akpabio assured the people of the local government area of his determination to deliver greater services with their support and votes February 25 Presidential/National Assembly elections.
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“We must use our votes to return Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu as our president, me as your Senator and other national assembly candidates on the 25th of February. The logo of our party is the broom. I am now in the broom party because the umbrella had long been torn into shreds,” the former Niger Delta Affairs Minister stated.
Speaking at the ward tour, the National Vice Chairman of the APC Presidential Campaign Council said the party decision to kick start the ward tour in Oruk Anam was very significant, and thanked the people of the area for not relenting in giving the needed support in previous elections.
“The people of Oruk Anam are my political backbone and this dated back to 2006 when I was aspiring for the governorship of our state. You people supported me to defeat over 56 other aspirants at the primaries. You also stood by me to win the governorship election in 2006 and re-elected me in 2011,” he recalled.
Speaking further, he said, “As governor, I laid a solid foundation for the future development of our Senatorial District and the state in general. My uncommon performance in office as your governor was to lay foundation for the emergence of another governor within us in the future because as they say, one good turn deserves another.
“Before I left office in 2015, I was able to link Abak, Etim Ekpo and Ika Local Government Areas to other parts of the state through good road network.
“It was also through your support that I was elected into the National Assembly. It is in appreciation of that support that I decided to flag-off my ward tour in Oruk Anam in order to personally say thank you to all of you for all the support,” he added.
“You people voted overwhelmingly for me, but some people colluded to rob me of my victory. The Professor who was used to rob me of that victory in 2019 is now in jail.”
In his speech at the rally, Mr. Ibritam reiterated the decision of Oruk Anam APC to deliver block votes at the National and State elections.
While applauding the ex-Minister and his campaign team for making Oruk Anam kick-off point for the National Assembly elections, Mr. Ibritam said ‘‘it shows how important we are to you over the years. You and our presidential candidate are our project in this local government area.’’
‘‘Senator Akpabio’s ambition cuts across party lines. We need a voice at the national level and we have collectively agreed that we will deliver Asiwaju Tinubu, Senator Akpabio and other candidates at all levels.’’
The retired police chief assured the people of an unprecedented representation once he and Senator Akpabio are given the mandate at the Green and Red Chambers of the National Assembly.
Dr. David Umoessien, the State Deputy Chairman of the party; Mr. Aniekan Abraham, the APC candidate for Oruk Anam State Constituency; and Mr. Enobong Ntukidem spoke in unison about their resolve to deliver block votes to the APC candidates.
The National Assembly Ward Tour which began at Ikot Afanga for Wards in Oruk, climaxed at Ikot Akpan Essien for electoral wards in Anam axis of the local government area.
Present at the event were Mrs. Unoma Akpabio, the former Akwa Ibom First Lady; the Director-General of Senator Godswill Akpabio Campaign Organization, Obongunwana (Arc.) Ubokutom Nyah; Dr. Margaret Udofia, the State acting Secretary of APC, and Hon. Patty Etete, a former National Assembly member, among other party chieftains.
