By Theresa Donatus, Uyo
The immediate past National Secretary of the defunct Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator John James Akpanudoedehe has declared his interest to join the Akwa Ibom gubernatorial race 2023.
Akpanudoedehe promised to lead the State out of poverty, ensuring even development that will bring prosperity to his people
He made this declaration over the weekend at a grand reception event organized by Akwa Ibom APC to receive him to the State after his service as the National Secretary of the party’s CECPC at Ibom Hall, Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
A large crowd of party faithful that thronged the venue took turns to plead with him to rescue the State by contesting for the governorship.
The former CECPC Secretary accepted and agreed to carry the flag of the party at the 2023 governorship election in the State.
According to him, “I want to accept your call. I hereby accept to run for the office of the governor of Akwa Ibom State.
“My focus will be how to deliver my people from poverty. I shall embark on a poverty alleviation program. N1m grants will be given to 1000 people in each local government area of the state.
He promised to give priority attention to the state urban renewal and development, particularly in Eket, and Oron Local government, alleviate the suffering of pensioners in the state and established primary industries in Uyo, Eket and ikot ekpene
A one-time Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was full of appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for allowing him to serve as national secretary of the party and other stakeholders who didn’t reject my nomination.
APC National Vice Chairman, South-South, Chief Victor Giadom, who stood in for the National Chairman of the party, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu urged state party leaders and members to team up and work for the victory of the party at the next general elections.
” With the crowd here today is clear proof that the APC here is viable and strong. Nobody can say we aren’t strong in Akwa-Ibom. Let us keep working together. We are close to the election and this isn’t time for us to fight ourselves but work together for the actualisation of APC success in Akwa-Ibom. From the leaders I have seen here, the APC will bring victory to us
“Let us come together and face our common enemy. Let us work together so that we can bring victory. I will like to come back here with the APC sitting in the Government House. I urge you to go back to your respective units to bring victory to APC. We can deliver APC to Akwa-Ibom,” Giadom motivated the crowd.
In the same vein former Secretary to the State Government and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority, (OGFZA), Umana Okon Umana, appealed to members to remain focused and avoid distraction from the race to the Government House next year.
Akwa Ibom APC chairman, Obong Augustine Ekanem, insisted the party was intact under his leadership and ready to take over government from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State
