2023: APC to adopt NNPP gov candidate in Akwa Ibom — Party chieftain

The All Progressives Congress (APC) could undertake the governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Social gathering (NNPP), John Akpanudoedehe, as its candidate for the 2023 elections in Akwa Ibom State, a chieftain of the APC has disclosed.

The APC’s governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom, Akanimo Udofia, is just not recognised by the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) as a result of the fee didn’t monitor the first that produced him as required by legislation.

Etim Etim, a chieftain of the celebration within the state, disclosed this in an article posted on Fb on Friday.

Mr Etim stated celebration leaders arrived on the place in a web based discussion board.

He didn’t, nevertheless, point out when the assembly befell.

“Instantly INEC closes the nomination processes and the campaigns start (twelfth October for governorship), APC will maintain a rally in Uyo to formally undertake Mr Akpanudoedehe as our candidate,’’ Mr Etim quoted a celebration chief within the state, Don Etiebet, as saying throughout the assembly.

Mr Etiebet, ex-petroleum minister, is a significant supporter of Mr Akpanudoedehe.

Mr Akpanudoedehe, a former nationwide secretary of the APC, not too long ago defected to the NNPP the place he secured the 2023 governorship ticket of the celebration.

He was the 2011 governorship candidate of the defunct Motion Congress of Nigeria in Akwa Ibom, however misplaced on the basic election to then Governor Godswill Akpabio of the Peoples Democratic Social gathering.

Mr Akpanudoedehe has been the face of opposition in Akwa Ibom politics for over a decade now.

He dumped the APC for the NNPP when a faction of the celebration loyal to the previous minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Akpabio, outmanoeuvred him and handed over the governorship ticket of the celebration to Mr Udofia, an entrepreneur, who joined the celebration a number of days to the first.

Akpanudoedehe’s probabilities

Though INEC report exhibits that 18 political events have fielded candidates for various positions for the 2023 basic elections within the state, the governorship race within the state is probably going going to be a straight battle for 3 political events – the PDP, the NNPP and the Younger Progressive Congress (YPP).

Umo Eno is the PDP candidate, whereas Bassey Albert, a senator, is the YPP candidate.

Analysts assume the race, as it’s proper now, favours Mr Akpanudoedehe as a result of he seems to be the one candidate that’s not slowed down by litigations in the intervening time.

Whereas Mr Akpanudoedehe has been touring native authorities areas and wards within the state, the candidates of the PDP and YPP are enmeshed in authorized tussles.

Mr Eno enjoys the support of Governor Emmanuel. He was Mr Emmanuel’s Commissioner for Lands and Water Sources earlier than he resigned to contest the PDP governorship main.

Mr Eno’s former colleague within the cupboard, Akan Okon, who was additionally a governorship aspirant, has sued him over alleged forgery of secondary college certificates.

Mr Etim, a veteran journalist, stated “the authorized problem seems like a thunder strike from inside, and each Mr Eno and Governor Emmanuel have been notably devastated.”

The YPP candidate, Mr Albert, a former ally of Governor Emmanuel, who not too long ago dumped the PDP, is being prosecuted by the EFCC for alleged bribery.

He’s accused of receiving bribes from a Lagos businessman, whereas he (Albert) was serving as a finance commissioner within the state below then Governor Akpabio.

Mr Etim believes “the decline in PDP’s power, the authorized troubles of the opposite two candidates and their lack of status within the face of blistering scandals, NNPP’s rising momentum and the anticipated endorsement of Mr Akpanudoedehe by APC huge wigs, an upset is within the offing.”

If this occurs, it might be the primary time since 1999 that one other celebration exterior the PDP will produce a governor of the state.