May 27, (THEWILL) – Akanimo Udofia has been declared the gubernatorial flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom for the 2023 general elections, after beating the likes of Senator Ita Enang, Prof. Christopher Ekong in a landslide victory.
The breakdown of the delegates election held at No. 6 Ekpo Obot State Secretariat of the party, shows that Akanimo Udofia pulled a total of 1,227 votes out of a total of 1,313 accredited delegates for the exercise, while his closest rivals, Senator Ita Enang and Christopher Ekong, scored 34 and 21 votes respectively.
By the victory, which was declared in early hours of Friday, May 27, by the Chairman, Akwa Ibom State APC Gubernatorial Primary Committee, Omobatunde Ajibola, Udofia will be contending majorly with the flag bearer of the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Pastor Umo Eno, in the general elections come February 2023.
THEWILL recalls that Pastor Umo Eno, the preferred successor of the incumbent governor of the state, Mr Udom Emmanuel, pulled a total of 993 votes on Wednesday, to win 13 others and emerged the flag bearer of the ruling People’s Democratic Party in the state for the general election in 2023.
THEWILL correspondent in Uyo, reports that the APC delegates election in the state was earlier scheduled to hold in two factions, in two different venues for 10am and 2pm respectively, but it took the intervention of the leader of the party in the state, Chief Godswill Akpabio, to reconcile the factions to some extent to achieve a successful exercise.
Announcing the results of the primary election at about 4.00 am, Mr Ajibola with other members of the State Gubernatorial Primary Committee, declared Akanimo Udofia the Governorship candidate for APC in the state.
In his acceptance speech, Udofia expressed appreciation to God, delegates and party faithfuls for standing strong and surmounting challenges and intimidations from those he described as undemocratic elements.
According to him, Akwa Ibom is a very peaceful state and does not depict the behaviour of some elements within the party.
“I thank you very much, I want to say that this is the beginning of a revolution. Akwa Ibom APC has spoken very loud and it is implied that the true change will come to the state in 2023.
“We will use our great party, the APC to institutionalise the dividends of democracy. We are going to build a greater Akwa Ibom State. It is going to be an enormous task, but when I look at the resilient nature of everyone of you party faithfuls here, I know together, we will join hands to build and make Akwa Ibom a greater state.
“This is only the beginning, we shall get there by the grace of God”, the candidate expressed.
He, however, called on the national delegates in the state, the Niger Delta region, South-South zone and the nation in general to support the aspiration of one of the Akwa Ibom son, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to emerge as the APC candidate for the 2023 presidential election during the primary on Saturday.
“I call on the national delegates from the State, South-South, Niger Delta and Nigeria in general. We go on bended knees, as we did today, let’s do it in Abuja tomorrow.
“Party faithfuls, prosperity is coming to Akwa Ibom State, I love you all. I stand on your mandate to assure you that come February 2023, with the zeal I see in all of you, our great party the APC, we will take over this state. God bless you all.”
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