Ex-Minister, Akpabio’s Sister- Inlaw, Others Win Akwa Ibom ADC Gov, Senate Tickets

Former minister of state for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, has emerged the candidate of the the African Democratic Party (ADC) in the polls conducted by national officers led by the Chairman of the primary committee, Mr.Titus Ejoor, at the weekend.

According to Ejoor, who announced the outcome of the polls leading to the emergence of the three Senatorial, 10 House of Representatives, and the 36 House of Assembly candidates at the Helema Event Centre, Uyo, Sunday night, revealed that Senator Akpanudoedehe polled a total of 66,099 votes to defeat against his opponent, Barr. Mfon Udeme who had 103 votes.

Congratulating the former Interim National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ejoor said: “Based on this result, may I officially declare Senator John Akpanudoedehe, as winner of the ADC governorship primaries in Akwa Ibom State,”

However, in his acceptance speech, the former Uyo local government council Chairman, applauded party loyalists, declaring that with the endorsement, he was “ready to confront hunger, unemployment and other malaise plaguing the administration of Governor Umo Eno, despite huge allocations from the centre.”

Accusing Umo Eno, of running a government without accountability with hundreds of unemployed youths suffering with emergency white hairs sprouting from their heads at age 35, Senator Akpanudoedehe said: “I am an opposition person who wants to take power from you. You’ve turned our young men into old men with grey hairs. You don’t have a policy to move people out of poverty, that is why we want to change you”, he vowed.

“We’re coming to build Akwa Ibom people from your deliberate policy of poverty to affluence. We’re coming to hold you accountable. Opposition is not your enemy, we’re coming to put you on your toes. It is our constitutional responsibility to show you what you’ve not done right”, he maintained.

The ADC governorship candidate further commended the Committee for being diligent in the discharge of their duties, while pledging loyalty to the Party.

Congratulating other candidates, the Primaries Election Committee Chairman lauded members of the Party for conducting themselves orderly throughout the primaries, noting that their composure was worthy of commendation.

For the senatorial primaries, Princess Patience Ibanga Akpabio, the Senate President’s sister -Inlaw, who emerged as the flag – bearer for Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District (Akwa Ibom North-West), who spoke on behalf of two other winners – Sunday Umoren, for Uyo Senatorial District (Akwa Ibom North-East) and Louis Paul Udoh, Eket Senatorial District (Akwa Ibom South), said the stage was set for her to wrest the baton from her son-Inlaw, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Princess Akpabio, who was accompanied by her husband, Ibanga Akpabio, a chieftain of the ADC, therefore, reminded the electorates from Ikot Ekpene zone, that plural democracy was a game of number, and urged those yet to have a voter card, to take the opportunity the window created by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and avail themselves of the ongoing registration registration exercise.

For the House of Representatives ticket, Jackson Emem Daniel won the Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium Constituency seat; Hanson Paul clinched Ikot Abasi/Mkpat Enin/Eastern Obolo; John Gabriel emerged for Oron/Mbo/Udung Uko/Okobo/Urue-Offong Oruko; Barr. Akaninyene Udofa won for Oruk Anam/Ukanafun; Chris Sunday George emerged for Eket/Onna/Esit Eket/Ibeno; Alfred Umoh owned Ikono/Ini; Nnamonso David won for Uyo/Uruan/Nsit Atai/Ibesikpo; Nsikak Umoeka won Itu/Ibiono-Ibom; Ofonime Johnson Inyang emerged for Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika; and Isaac Asuquo clinched the Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Constituency seats, respectively.

Winners of the 26 State Constituency who were returend unopposed are: Paul Sunday Udoh (Onna), Kelvin Ime (Uruan), Ubong Udoh Akpan (Ikono), Emmanuel Stephen Peters (Ikot Abasi/Eastern Obolon), Edemiko Ita Dan (Nsit Atai), Lucky Sunday Enang (Ukanafun), Etimbuk Ime Akpan (Abak), Inemesit Mitchell Nkereuwem (Essien Udim), Isaac Udoidiong Ibanga (Ikot Ekpene), Patrick Sambo William (Uyo), Akaninyene Boniface Etim (Ibiono-Ibom), Inem Kufre (Etinan), Idongesit Amos (Mkpat Enin), Jude Linus (Ika), Innocent Okoro (Oruk Anam), Emmanuel Isine (Eket), Saviour Monday (Nsit Ubium), Daniel Michael (Nsit Ibom), Archibong Duke (Esit Eket), Otu Monday (Ibeno), Enwono Etim John (Etim Ekpo), Valentine Okon (Okobo), Victor Frank (Orueffong Oruko), Mercy Edeke (Oron/Udung Uko), Joseph Okon Etim (Mbo) and Archibong Bassey (Itu).