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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