Billionaire businessman and philantropist Mr Akanimo Udofia has emerged the Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Akwa Ibom.
Udofia got 1,227 votes out of 1,313 votes from delegates to beat eight other aspirants including Senator Ita Enang who scored 34 votes and a University Don, Prof Chris Ekong who got 21 votes.
Announcing the result of the election in Uyo yesterday, chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Governorship Nomination Committee Mr Omabatunde Ajibola gave votes scored by the other candidates to include Mr Uduak Udo(7), Akpan Udoedehe(2), Richard Anana(2), Larry Esin(1) and Austin Utuk(0) with 19 votes declared void.
In an acceptance speech, the APC guber candidate commended delegates for their resilence and conduct despite challenges and intimidations from undemocratic elements in the party.
He promised to unite and accommodate all stakeholders and aggrieved members of the party calling for greater unity and increased committment to enable the APC triumph in next year’s gubernatorial and general elections.
“I thank God with the way you conducted yourselves. Most especially party faithfuls who despite all challenges, intimidations from undemocratic forces, because the way certain the way certain people behaved today was certainly not anyway tenable in the life of an Akwa Ibom person.Akwa Ibom is a peaceful state and our people do not stand for anything not peaceful.
” I want to say that this is the beginning of a revolution. The Akwa Ibom APC have spoken very loud, you have indicated that true change will come to Akwa Ibom State come 2023. You have agreed that we are going to use our great party, the APC to institutionalize the dividends of democracy and it must cascade down to the last ward, to the last corner.
“We are going to build a greater Akwa Ibom State. It is going to be an enormous task but when I look at the resilence of each and everyone of you party faithfuls I know you are ready to join hands with me and together we are going to make Akwa Ibom a greater and better state.” He assured.
He commended ex minister of Niger Delta Affairs Senator Godswill Akpabio’s for his efforts at building the party and called for support for his presidential ambition.
“You also know our great son Senator Godswill Akpabio is running for the Presidency and just as you have done it for me today I will encourage all national delegates of our party to for him.The Akwa Ibom spirit is on the rise and I am calling on you to support our great son.
“Once again, party faithfuls, prosperity is coming to Akwa Ibom and to Nigeria through me and Senator Akpabio. I stand on your mandate and assure you all that come February 2023 with your support and committment APC will take over this state.” Udofia said.
State chairman of the party, Mr Stephen Ntukekpo had earlier commended delegates for their patience and committment towards the progress and unity of the party.
Ntukekpo who commended the electoral committee for sticking to the constitution of the party tasked stakeholders to eschew selfish interests and work towards streghtening the party inorder to enable it triumph in next year’s general elections in the state and country.
Meanwhile it was learnt that the primaries dragged into the early hours of Friday following delays caused an alleged attempt by one of the aspirants to hijack and divert election materials meant for the primary election from the state gubenatorial national electoral committee members on their way from the Victor Attach International Airport to the party Secretariat, venie of the primary election.
It was however gathered that the attempt was foiled by a detachment of the Directorate of State Security Service (DSS) after almost four hours of standoff between supporters of the aspirants and security agencies along Oron road in Uyo.
