Jane Otu, South South
DAILY COURIER– Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has charged the chairmanship and councillorship candidates who emerged at the just concluded local government election primaries in the state to get ready for the work ahead and see service as their primary reason for seeking respective offices.
The Governor gave the charge while addressing winners of the primaries under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform in his hometown, Nsit Ubium, where Mr. Alfred Charles was nominated as the chairmanship candidate among all the councilorship candidates.
He tasked them to be ready to work and maintain the democratic ethos of the PDP as well as contribute to driving the community development efforts encapsulated in the ARISE Agenda of his administration.
Daily Courier reports that, ahead of the October 5 local government elections in Akwa Ibom State, the PDP has elected 31 chairmanship and 368 councillorship candidates through a nomination process on Saturday, August 3.
The Governor, who attributed the success of the Party’s primary elections largely to the peace enjoyed in Akwa Ibom State, said this is as a result of the general disposition of his administration and the people of the state.
He, however, appreciated the people of the area and Akwa Ibom people, particularly party faithful, for conducting themselves and the exercise peacefully, especially in a period where several parts of the country are not enjoying the ambience experienced in the state and reiterating his commitment to unveil and implement more welfare packages for the youths.
Our Correspondent who monitored the exercise in the 31 LGAs in the state, reports that the process was peaceful, credible and successful as leaders and party chieftains in all the council areas took charge and were in total control of the exercise.
In Oron Local Government Area where the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, PhD, also took part in the primaries, she alluded that PDP has once again shown a good example of orderliness and peace, holding that the Umo Eno’s administration is a shining example of good conduct which she said has easily transcended to every part of the state.
In Ikot Akpa Nkuk, Ukanafun, the State Chairman of the PDP, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Akpan, who witnessed the nomination of the chairmanship candidate, Hon. Uyo Ukpanah, lauded the delegates and party faithful for the success, restating the party’s readiness to win at the polls and to deliver good governance to the people.
In Abak, the primaries ended on a peaceful note as delegates converged on the Independence Hall, Abak, to elect Mrs. Ime Charles as the party flag bearer in the election.
Also expressing appreciation to the people of the area for their peaceful conduct, stakeholders, including the Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Udeme Otong; immediate past National Assembly member, Hon. Aniekan Umanah, and other leaders in Abak, predicted a massive victory for the party in the October 5 polls.
In Uyo Ward 7 where the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, joined other party faithful in the area to vote in affirmation of their preferred councillorship aspirant, Mr Uduakabasi Sunday Dan, party members trouped out in their numbers and queued behind the councillorship candidate to affirm their support for his candidature.
Speaking shortly after the exercise, the SSG described the process as peaceful and lauded the leadership of the PDP in the state for effective leadership and proper organisation, adding that, as the first beneficiary of appointment in the present administration, his ward had good reason to be loyal to the PDP.
At the Local Government Council Secretariat, the venue for the chairmanship nomination exercise, Dr. Uwemedimoh Udo, incumbent Chairman of Uyo Local Government Area, emerged chairmanship candidate of the party after clinging all 42 delegate votes cast in affirmation of his candidature.
In their separate interactions with newsmen, the SSG, Prince Uwah and the Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Civil Service Commission, Hon. Monday Eyo, expressed their satisfaction with the process and commended stakeholders in the Local Government for giving their nod to a second-term arrangement in the area.
In Itu Local Government Area, where delegates cast their votes to affirm the emergence of Mr. Ubong Wilson Ukut, the Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kufreabasi Edidem, remarked that the party faithful and leaders in Itu have followed the steps of Governor Eno in conducting themselves peacefully and orderly without rancor, to produce a widely accepted candidate for PDP in the October poll.
At Utu Etim Ekpo, the Etim Ekpo Local Government Council Headquarters, where Gideon Uwa emerged as the chairmanship candidate, former National Legal Adviser of the PDP, Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem, SAN, lauded the PDP faithful for their orderliness throughout the exercise, even as he described the nomination as the most peaceful in the history of primary elections in Nigeria, urging Akwa Ibom people to continue to keep faith with the PDP as it is the hope for good governance for the state and Nigeria.
In Ikot Abasi, frontline Construction Czar, Engr Uwem Okoko, who spoke to reporters shortly after Ime Williamson emerged, said everything that has happened in Akwa Ibom since the return of Democracy in 1999 shows that the PDP holds the magic wand for the multifaceted development of Akwa Ibom State.
The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ini Ememobong, speaking in Oko-Ita, Ibiono Ibom, where Comrade Asuakak Umoh was affirmed and declared the party’s candidate for the chairmanship poll, noted that the people of Ibiono Ibom are resolute in maintaining peace and order in their affairs, holding that they will remain supportive to Governor Eno and his ARISE Agenda.
Earlier in Use Ndon, Comrade Ememobong led the party faithful in Ibiono Ibom Ward 5 to move a vote of confidence on Governor Eno, where Mr. Ita Edet Bassey emerged as the councillorship candidate.
In Eket where Hon. Akan Tommey emerged as the PDP flag-bearer, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mkpisong Frank Archibong, congratulated the chairmanship and councillorship candidates from the Local Government Area, urging them to keep accountability and good governance as their watchword when they are voted into office.
In Ini LGA where Comrade Inibehe Umah was declared the winner, the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Offiong Offor, expressed delight at the peaceful conduct of the exercise and sued for continued support for the administration of Governor Eno, while also urging the flag-bearer not to disappoint the confidence reposed in him by the people of Ini.
Engr. Otobong Essien, who emerged as the PDP chairmanship candidate in Ikono LGA, assured the people of quality representation, while also extolling Governor Eno for being gender-sensitive.
Hon. Itoro Columba, former Chairman, Ikono LGC and Secretary, Ikono Election Committee, while congratulating the chairmanship standard bearer of the party, charged party supporters to continue in their unflinching support for Governor Eno and the PDP.
In Essien Udim, commendations have trailed Engr. Enobong Patrick, who emerged as the PDP chairmanship candidate. He thanked God and Governor Eno for his peaceful disposition to politics and governance, submitting that the primary has made history as the most peaceful party primary ever held in the area.
Also speaking, one of the stakeholders and delegates from Okon Ward, Barr. Imo-Owo Okpokpo, thanked the Governor for his foresight and peaceful disposition that has brought about the most peaceful primary ever held in the history of Essien Udim, submitting that the process has brought about peace, unity and togetherness, assuring that the outcome of the primary will lead to a landslide victory for the party come October 5, 2024.
In Udung Uko LGA, the consensus candidate for the chairmanship ticket, Elder Godwin Okponung, emphasised his commitment to service and the sustenance of peace, vowing to uphold the peace currently enjoyed across the area and pledged to undertake extensive developmental projects in line with Governor Eno’s Arise Agenda.
Also speaking separately shortly after their affirmation as candidates of the PDP for the chairmanship poll in their respective areas, the Eket Council boss, Mr. Akan Tommey, his Uyo counterpart, Dr. Uwemedimo Udo, Prince Uyo Ukpanah of Ukanafun, and Mr. Sunday Okon Etim of Mbo, among others, expressed unreserved appreciation to the party and Governor Eno for making their nomination process a peaceful and successful endeavour, pledging to represent the party’s democratic ideals in all ramifications and working to support the ARISE Agenda of the Governor, which they agreed is people-centric and yielding good results.
