Mr. Eseme Eyiboh (middle) speaking to journalists in Uyo on Friday.
Abasifreke Effiong
Members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Akwa Ibom State have been reassured that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, will publish the name of the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Akanimo Udofia, after October 6.
The party primary that produced Mr. Udofia has been a subject of litigation. The Federal High Court hearing the case fixed Thursday October 6, 2022 for ruling.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, a member of the State Executive Committee of the APC and candidate of the party for Eket/Esit Eket/Ibeno/ONNA federal constituency, Mr. Eseme Eyiboh assured members of the party that Udofia’s name will be published by INEC after the ruling.
Eyiboh said the clarification was necessary so that members and supporters of the party will not be deceived to believe that the party does not have a governorship candidate when INEC publishes the list of governorship candidates on Tuesday 4th October.
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“On the 4th of October, there is going to be a publication of candidates for the Governorship and House of Assembly by INEC, don’t expect Obong Akan Udofia’s name to be published on the 4th because judgement on his case will be given on the 6th. I can assure you that when the judgment is given, INEC will publish his name on a later date. I am making this clarification as a pre-emptive move to ensure that our members are not misled when INEC publishes the list on the 4th, because I know some persons would want to use that as a subject for tar-brushing”, Eyiboh
He said APC has candidates for all positions in the forthcoming election, stressing that APC will win the 2023 election in Akwa Ibom State.
Eyiboh argued that those who said that INEC will not publish Senator Godswill Akpabio’s name as candidate of Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district were out to discredit the party and make the it lose patronage.
“People wanted to go unopposed that is why they raised the false alarm that APC will not have candidates for the election.”
“APC has candidates for all the positions in the coming election and we are going into the election to win. APC is winning the election, take that home. I can tell you, Akan Udofia, Godswill Akpabio, Eseme Eyiboh will win the election”,
Speaking on his plans for Eket federal constituency, Eyiboh said he is returning to the House of Representatives with a wealth of experience, a rich contact and capacity to relate with authorities and agencies of government to attract their presence to the felt needs of the people.
“During my first outing at the House of Representatives, I sponsored youths for training both in Nigeria and abroad on different skills, the records are there. I ensured they our young men and women were trained in different skills in line with the prevailing human capacity needs identified. I will build the capacity of our people and link them up to jobs. So my contact, experience will count.”
“It is very worrisome that we are trading experience with mediocrity. Esit Eket does not have electricity for the past eight years, we do not have a financial institution, not a single ATM. If we had people with the capacity to interact within the power interplay, these are things that can be done with just a phone call” he said.
