Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Godswill Akpabio has vowed he would not impose any candidate on Uyo Senatorial District as its choice for the 2023 governorship election in Akwa Ibom State.

Reports say that by the zoning arrangement in the state, the next governor should come from Uyo Senatorial District (officially known as Akwa Ibom Northeast).

Akpabio is from Akwa Ibom northwest (or Ikot Ekpene senatorial District). The former Senator is believed by some to be the All Progressives Congress (APC) leader in Akwa Ibom. He was instrumental in the emergence of incumbent Governor Udom Emmanuel of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in 2015.

Recently, the former governor created a political pressure group known as Akwa Ibom Democratic Forum (ADF) in the state, thus triggering impressions that the group is his special purpose vehicle through which his anointed candidate would emerge.

“My goal is to work with like-minded associates in Uyo Senatorial District and nominate a suitable candidate that would win the election,” Akpabio said. “I have no particular person in mind, and I cannot repeat the mistake I made in 2015.”

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio
Akpabio was speaking at the inauguration of executives of Uyo Senatorial District chapter of Akwa Ibom Democratic Forum (ADF).

It was the first time he would address the issue in such a clear manner in front of a large crowd of Uyo Senatorial District politicians, and it was a direct rebuttal of insinuations spread by critics that the Minister was planning to foist a particular aspirant on the district.

But he has come out to deny and dispel the speculations, saying: “Akwa Ibom people of various political persuasions do agree that we need a dependable leadership in 2023” and that “I will work with all of you to identify and support any candidate that will develop our state”.

He added: “Uyo Senatorial District is capable of bringing up good a good candidate that would be acceptable to the rest of the state. ADF will work with Uyo in this regard.”

Agreeing with him, Group Captain Sam Ewang, a retired military officer who was governor of Ogun and Rivers State during the military era, confirmed that he has had several heart-to-heart discussions with Akpabio on the 2023 politics and he is certain that the minister “will not impose any candidate on Uyo”.

–-With Etim Etim

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It was a moment of emotions, surprise and excitement in Oshogbo on Monday, venue of the Southwest PDP zonal congress as the two warring factional leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in Southwest, Governor Seyi Makinde and former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose sheathe their swords to embrace peace for the progress of the party.

While making their separate remarks, Ayodele Fayose declared Makinde as his leader and leader of the PDP in the region. Fayose’s remarks sparked positive reactions from the delegates across all the six Southwest states. Fayose also apologized to whoever he might have offended.

On his part, Governor Seyi Makinde said today’s congress will go a long way to determine the future of the PDP in the Southwest.

Details later….

The Unedited Press Statement.

RE: COMPLAINT OF ILLEGAL RELEASE OF OVER 150 BALLOT PAPER TO GOVERNOR MAKINDE FOR BALLOT STUFFING AT SOUTH-WEST CONGRESS

Our attention has been drawn to a spurious and baseless Petition circulating in the Social media purportedly signed by Mr.

, the Ogun State Chairman on behalf of Chairmen of Ogun, Lagos, Osun and Ekiti States.

The petition alleged that “over 150 (One hundred and fifty) ballot papers for the election of National Vice Chairman and Zonal Secretary have been released to a group illegally by a Staff of the Directorate of Organization and Mobilization intended for ballot stuffing”. The petition also claimed that “the hatched job of stuffing the ballot boxes with these illegally released ballot papers is to be supervised and achieved by a ‘certain Senator Anyanwu’”.

Ordinarily, there would have been no need to comment on the misleading letter since the allegations are false and malicious, but, in this age of Social media, it is important to save the unsuspecting public from falling prey to the antics of the author, in the name of politics.

It is on record that under our watch, our Party has consistently conducted some of the best primary elections.  The last Presidential Primary election of October 2018 was accorded the status of the most transparent and best primary election of any Political Party in the history of our Country.  Ekiti (2018), Osun (2018), Kogi (2019), Bayelsa (2019), Ondo (2020) Governorship Primary Elections were unquestionably free, fair, transparent and credible.

In keeping with the mandate of the National Working Committee (NWC) to ensure free, fair and transparent South West Zonal Congress:

I wish to implore every member of our Party, the Delegates and Stakeholders across the Country to discountenance this unnecessary, irresponsible, reckless and false publication.  The NWC will continue to ensure free, fair, credible and transparent primaries in line with its oath of office.

Col Austin Akobundu (rtd).

National Organizing Secretary