Buhari to kick off 2019 campaign in Akwa Ibom

President Muhammadu Buhari will flag off the campaign for his second term bid in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom state, on Friday.

Ita Enang, senior special assistant to the president on national assembly matters (senate), made the disclosure on Monday.

Enang said the president would be in the state with Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the ruling party, and other leaders of the party.

He said the party would use the opportunity to formally present the party’s flag to APC gubernatorial candidates of Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers and Delta respectively.

“President Muhammadu Buhari and 2019 presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress candidate will be in Akwa Ibom on December 28 to flag off the 2019 campaign of the APC,” he said.

“He will be coming with the national chairman of the party and the national leaders of the party. The sitting governors of the party and other governorship candidate of the party

“He will be here to formally launch his campaign and flag off the 2019 presidential election campaign.”

According to him, the campaign will kick off in Akwa Ibom because the state has accepted the president fully and the state is ripe for harvest by the party.

The presidential aide also revealed that the party has requested from Akwa Ibom government permission to use the Akpabio International Stadium.

Monday Uko, commissioner for youths and sports, said the Akwa Ibom government has approved the use of the stadium.

Uko told journalists on Monday that the approval became necessary following the decision by Julius Berger Plc. to recall its staff from their scheduled holiday.

“Following a decision by Julius Berger Plc to recall their staff from their scheduled holiday, the Akwa Ibom Government approved the use of the Nest of Champions Stadium, Uyo for President Muhammadu Buhari’s rally on December 28,” he said.

Uko added that all the terms stipulated by government for the use of the facility would be enforced.

He said the organisers of the rally were expected to liaise with the stadium management for further details.

The state government had initially said it would not approve the use of the stadium for the presidential rally due to the Nigeria Premier League matches billed to be played at the stadium, when the competition begins next year.