By Aniefiok Christopher
The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State has rolled out its campaign train ahead of the October 5, 2024 Local Government polls in the state.
At the event led by the State Chief Executive Officer, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the party presented flags to PDP chairmanship candidates from the 31 Local Government Areas of the state.
Governor Eno who was flanked by the State Chairman of the party, Hon. Aniekan Akpan, commended the leadership of the party in the State, for keeping and growing the party structure without rancour.
He then congratulated the Chairmanship candidates and Councillorship candidates across the 369 Wards of the State, describing them as true ambassadors of the Party in their respective LGAs and charged them to go out and campaign by sharing their hopes and aspirations with the people in line with the tenets of the ARISE agenda.
He urged the candidates to focus on issue-based campaigns, abhor insults, character assassination, but to focus on measures to provide dividends of democracy to people at the grassroots.
Eno boasted that his achievements under the ARISE Agenda programmes, in the past 15 months are evident enough to give impetus to their campaigns.
He, therefore, tasked the candidates to showcase the achievements as sterling records of service, accountability and forthrightness of his administration in the last 15 months.
He ended his remarks with prayers for safety of the candidates, hoping for successful campaigns, while commiting them to God Almighty for success and victorious outings ahead of the polls.
Speaking earlier, the State Chairman of the Party, Elder Aniekan Akpan had charged the PDP candidates to work hard to justify the confidence reposed on them ahead of the forthcoming local government elections in the state.
Expressing confidence of the party’s dominance ahead of the polls, Elder Akpan sought support of the citizens from the various local government areas, as he gave special thanks to the State’s number one citizen for not betraying the trust of the party within the past 15 months of his administration.
Responding on behalf of the candidates, the Chairman of Uyo Local Government Area, Dr Uwemedimo Udo thanked the State Governor and the leadership of the party in the state for finding them fit for the job, pledging never to betray the trust.
In an interview with journalists, the party’s chairmanship candidate for Abak Local Government Area, Mrs Ime Charles Effiong thanked God for making the event a success and commended the Abak people for giving her an opportunity to emerge as the next democratically elected chairman of the area.
While asking for their votes ahead of the polls, Mrs Effiong assured them of an all-inclusive administration giving the opportunity to emerge as the Chairman of the local government area.
The event was witnessed by the political class, youth and women groups from across the State, including the State Deputy Governor, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi and the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Enobong Uwah among Senators from the three Senatorial Districts of the state.
