Ahead of the 2023 general elections in Akwa Ibom State, one of the aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants, Mr Onofiok Luke, has jettisoned his reported plans to defect to the Labour Party (LP) and surrendered his ambition to the PDP governorship candidate, Pastor Umo Eno.
Luke, the current House of Representatives member for Etinan federal constituency, abandoned his quest to rule the state following the intervention of the Ibibio supreme monarch (Oku Ibom Ibibio), Ntenyin Solomon Etuk, who brokered the deal in his palace in Nsit Ubium local government area.
Luke, former speaker of the State House of Assembly, was one of the aggrieved aspirants, who pulled out of the May 25, 2022 primary held at the Chief Godswill Akpabio International Stadium (Nest of Champions), Uyo, the state capital, citing “unapproved use of Ad-hoc delegates.”
The matter, which the protesting aspirants took to the Abuja High Court for determination was, however, declared against Luke, and others, forcing the highest Ibibio traditional stool, Ifim Ibom Ibibio, to wade-in.
Speaking at the forum, Luke, commended his kinsman and the paramount ruler of his native Nsit Ubium LGA, for initiating and brokering the reconciliation meeting, saying, “I cannot disobey the voice of the highest traditional institution in Ibibio land”.
“I will not decide for my campaign organisation, but I have accepted.
As for me, Onofiok Akpan Luke, I will be working with my brother and leader, Pastor Umo Eno, for the development of Akwa Ibom State.
“I was contesting to be Governor under the PDP. Though there have been overtures by other political parties, but as a party man, I must support the candidate of my party”, he stressed.
Though Pastor Eno, is his kinsman from the same Nsit Ubium LGA, Luke explained that the decision to support his candidature was not induced, but “in humble submission to the wise counsels of the royal fathers and the desire for a better Akwa Ibom”.
However, Eno, full of delights, commended Luke, whom he described as “my junior brother in age and my senior in politics”, for the show of humility and love for the Akwa Ibom project.
He said: “I will work with you with open heart. I will never take this for granted. Help me reassure your teeming supporters that your people shall be my people.”
