As the 2023 general elections beckon, Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel has joined eight other aspirants in the presidential race under Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Straightnews has gathered.
Straightnews learned reliably from PDP National Secretariat, Wadata House, Abuja that the governor has purchased PDP nomination form and expression of interest to vie for presidency.
For the office of President, an aspirant must pay N5,000,000 for Expression of Interest and N35,000,000 for Nomination Form.
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Speaking with Straightnews publisher on March 30, a Senior Special on Media to the Governor who did not want his name in print confirmed that it was true.
According to him, Brekete Family on Human Rights Radio 101.1 FM, Abuja bought the nomination form and expression of interest for the governor.
Recall that on Friday, January 14, Governor Udom appeared on a live interview as a guest on Brekete Family Radio Live Talk Show in Abuja, hosted by the Ordinary President, Ahmed Isah on Brekete Family on Human Rights Radio 101.1 FM, Abuja, where he spoke on his achievements in the last six years and on the State of the Nation.
At the end of the interview, Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora called on Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel to contest the 2023 presidential elections in order to replicate his industrialization policy and use his creative financial and economic ingenuity to salvage the Nigerian dwindling and almost collapsing economy.
However, another source outside Government House, Uyo disputed the claim as untrue, saying ‘The governor purchased the form. Where would host of Brekete source for N40 million to buy form and expression of interest for a sitting governor?’’
So far, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the leading opposition in the country has collected N285 million from eight presidential aspirants who purchased its nomination and expression of interest forms to contest for the presidency.
The aspirants who have so far collected the forms are former vice president Atiku Abubakar; former Senate president Bukola Saraki; Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, and a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.
Others are Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; veteran journalist and publisher, Dele Momodu; Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze and Diana Oliver Tariela, the only female aspirant who has purchased the forms.
Although Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has declared his interest to join the presidential race, he is yet to collect the form.
