Stakeholders of Akwa Ibom north west senatorial district have chosen the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Saturday’s election over former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, who is candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
At s meeting convened by former minister of petroleum, Otuekong Don Etiebet, with the leader of the senatorial district and deputy governor of Akwa Ibom state, Moses Ekpo, in attendance, the elders said their action was to ensure the sustenance of the prevailing peace, unity, progress, growth, development and prosperity of the senatorial district.
The meeting held on Tuesday at the auditorium of Ritman University, Ikot Ekpene.
The stakeholders vowed to ensure no one man is allowed to cause political disaffection in Annang land in particular and Ikot Ekpene senatorial district in general.
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In a 10- point communique issued at the end of the meeting, the leaders said in view of the need to maintain the prevailing peace, unity, progress, growth, development and prosperity in Akwa Ibom north west (Ikot Ekpene) senatorial district, they met to brainstorm, analyse and evaluate issues relating to the forthcoming February 25, 2023 senatorial election and the future of our the district and resolved to adopt and endorse former PDP national legal adviser, and Candidate for Ikot Ekpene senatorial district as the consensus candidate for the election.
“We are conscious of the fact that, in the last 24 years, since the advent of the Fourth (4th) Republic in 1999, three (3) out of the four (4) Federal Constituencies in the Senatorial District have had a Representation at the Senate, viz a- viz Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, (1999-2003) Ikot Ekpene federal Constituency; Senator Itak Bob Ekarika, (2023-2007) Ukanafun Oruk Anam Federal Constituency; Senator Aloysius Etok (2007-2011/2011-2015) Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency, Senator Godswill Akpabio (2015-2019) Ikot Ekpene federal Constituency; and Senator Christopher Ekpeyong (2019-2023) Ikot Ekpene federal Constituency”.
“Fom the above statistics, it is obvious that, only Abak federal Constituency have never had a representative in the Senate in the 4th Republic, whereas, Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency have represented us for 4 years, Ikot Ekpene federal Constituency have represented us for 12 years while Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency represented us for 8 years.
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“Based on the foregoing, and in the interest of the peace, unity, progress and harmonious co-existence of the Senatorial District, we herby urge no one from the other three federal Constituencies to contest the 2023 Senatorial election”, the release stated.
On his part, a former deputy Speaker and an ally of Akpabio, Uwem Udoma, noted that the issue of Abak federal constituency producing the next senator is about justice, equity and fairness, and urged the people to go out en masse on Saturday and send a clear message with the power of their PVC through the ballot.
He assured that Enoidem will make Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District and the Annang nation proud as their Senator.
Responding, Enoidem, who expressed delight at the ability of the leaders to come together irrespective of political party affiliation, noted that it is the first time in the history of the senatorial district that such a non-partisan coalition meeting was taking place, and promised to ensure the sustenance of the meeting regularly once elected into office, assuring that he will not disappoint them in his legislative representation in the Senate.
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