By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC ) in Akwa Ibom State said they recognized and had already forwarded the name of Obong Akan Udofia to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the gubernatorial candidate of the party in the state for the 2023 gubernatorial election.
INEC however, is yet to recognize the candidacy of Obong Udofia who won the gubernatorial primary in the state, even as he is still running a legal battle with one of the guber aspirants of the party in the state.
The party recently has been enmeshed in an internal crisis in the state which could lead to catastrophe for the part in the election if left unresolved.
However, in a stakeholders’ meeting held in Uyo yesterday, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana Okon Umana disclosed that the National Executive Council of the Party had presented the name of Udofia to INEC as the guber candidate but only awaiting confirmation by the court for INEC to do the needful.
Umana who called for collective support for Udofia urged other party stakeholders to cease dwelling in the past and rather look at the bigger picture that the future holds for the party in the state.
According to him: “Let us move away from petty bickering and wrangling over the past. Now, we are to focus on the APC presidential rally while strategic steps are being taken to peacefully redress the protracted challenges in our party.”
Also speaking, the former governor of Akwa Ibom, Chief Godswill Akpabio lauded Umana Umana for the meeting. While insisting that Udofia is the duly elected and recognized guber candidate of the party, he called on all supporters to rally round him.
Akpabio who sued for peace and unity said he was willing and ready to work on achieving peace for the party.
Other stakeholders at the meeting took turns to express their readiness to allow peace to reign in the party to enable them to occupy the hilltop mansion.
On his part, the governorship candidate, Obong Akan Udofia commended members who had remained faithful and committed to the party and thanked stakeholders for their doggedness and loyalty to the party.
“I am a man of peace and a child of destiny. I have come in peace to build with you. Let’s work together to prosecute the coming general election. Let us bury all the court cases that have held the party back.
“Our challenges and frustrations stem largely from poverty, hunger and lack that enveloped majority in the state. I dare say that if we unite to win the election, we shall banish poverty and hunger in our state,” he said.
