Ahead of the 2019 general election, the people of Abak, Etim Ekpo and Ika Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State have passed a vote of confidence on Governor Emmanuel Udom.
They approved him for re-election for another term and pledged to vote for him en-masse.
Also approved for another term in office are the Deputy Governor of the state, Moses Ekpo and the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
However, for the member of the House of Representatives for the local government area, it was agreed that it should be zoned to Abak local government area in the next election.
The vote of confidence on the political leaders is the outcome of a meeting held to take a common position on the political future of the constituency.
In attendance were major stakeholders, including elders and the people of the constituency.
In the communiqué presented by Bishop Ahaziah Umanah at the end of the meeting, the people of the constituency said their resolve to give full backing to the governor, his deputy and Godswill Akpabio, resulted from their achievements in office.
The communiqué reads in part: “That a vote of confidence be and is hereby passed on His Excellency, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State for his superlative performances and concrete achievements in the strategic implementation of his 5-points agenda which formed the bedrock of his electioneering promises even at a very challenging time of the worst recessions in Nigerian recent history…
“That a vote of confidence be and is hereby passed on His Excellency, Mr. Moses Ekpo, the Deputy Governor for his support and contributions which have enabled the Government of Akwa Ibom State to attain these heights in a challenging period of two years.
“That a vote of confidence be and is hereby passed on Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON, Senate Minority Leader, for his uncommon feats and achievements in the Senate and especially, the nationally unprecedented constituency briefing and empowerment programmes which have brought joy to hundreds of people in the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.”
After a review of the representation of the area in the House of Representatives from 1999, the group “unanimously resolves that in 2019, the Federal Constituency seat shall move to Abak Local Government Area in the interest of peace, justice and fairness and that only candidates from Abak Local Government shall be eligible to aspire.”
At the meeting were top political leaders, including officials of the Peoples Democratic Party, Deputy Governor Moses Ekpo and the state’s Attorney General, Uwemedimoh Nwoko.
Also present were legislators in the State House of Assembly – Friday Iwok and his counterpart representing Etim Ekpo /Ika, Gabriel Toby.
Others include Ekpo Udom, a retired police officer, Senatorial District Woman Leader of PDP, Mrs. Useneno Tom, former commissioners in the state, Emmanuel Enoidem and Elder (Hon) Aniekan Umanah.
Also in attendance were the Chairman, Abak Local Government Transition Committee, Hon. Emmanuel Udosen, his Etim Ekpo and Ika counterparts, Hon. Udeme Eduo and Hon. (Mrs.) Inibehe Silas; the three PDP chapter chairmen, Dr. Mike Udoh (Abak); Aniekan Dan (Etim Ekpo) and Iboro Nelson, (Ika).
In his welcome remarks, the Chairman of Abak Local Government Transition Committee, Udosen commended the initiative of convening such an important meeting, noting that it could not have come at a better time than now.
Setting the tone for the meeting, Emmanuel Enoidem, a former commissioner in Akwa Ibom State called on everyone in the Federal Constituency to come together and chart a common course for the progress and stability of the constituency.
Speaking to reporters at the venue, the immediate past Commissioner for Information and Communication in the state, Aniekan Umanah, praised the people for their wisdom and commended Governor Udom Emmanuel and his deputy for striving hard to make the state a better place.
He also described Akpabio as a true leader and a voice of the voiceless in the Nigerian Senate.
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