Election: 30 governorship candidates ready to endorse Ekere in A’ Ibom

Isaac Job, Uyo

There were indications at the weekend that a coalition of candidates of 30 different political parties in Akwa Ibom have perfected their arrangements to surrender political structures for the success of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Obong Nsima Ekere in next month general election. Our correspondent gathered that few hours after signing necessary peace accord documents at a ceremony organised by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) held at Ibom hall last week, 30 of the candidates who signed the accord have resolved to drop their ambition and back the APC candidate. Sources privy to a midnight meeting held by 25 of the 30 governorship candidates willing to abandon their candidacies at an undisclosed resident of one of the candidates at Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, disclosed that the candidates have agreed to throw their weight behind Ekere. The source who preferred anonymity, said, “I was in the meeting last night. We have not resolved. We are on the move to adopt him as our sole candidate for the upcoming governorship election in state. “The problem now is lobbying the millions of our followers to see reasons with us the candidates on why they should move with us to the new political direction. It is not easy convincing to move with us. We are perfecting modalities to protect their aspirations in this arrangement.” Further investigation revealed that the governorship candidate of Democratic Alternative (AD) in Akwa Ibom, Mr Johnson Attah was elected as the organising secretary for the coalition which would be brokered before the election. “Ekere’s manifesto and blueprint for the State which appropriately capture the desire and aspirations of the people of the state have informed their resolve to pitch tent with the candidate of the APC”. A lady who identified herself as a woman leader of one of the political parties said, “You see this election, Akpabio will rubbish Udom and entire PDP. Look, the man (Akpabio) is like a good striker who would rather cause a penalty instead of losing one on one with goal keeper. “So the earlier we pitch our tent with the man that will win this election (Ekere), the better for all of us. “We should swallow our pride and support Obong Nsima Ekere because it is crystal clear that all odds favour him in the forthcoming election”. When contacted, the governorship candidate of Democratic Alternative (DA), Mr Johnson Attah, who confirmed the political move said, “what is good is good. Obong Ekere has good credential to govern the state”. “Well there are some negotiations ongoing but it is not certain as it is. But as time goes on it will unveil itself. I am seeing Nsima as the next governor of the state. Despite we are contemporaries going for the same office not everybody will be at the office at the same time”. “Whoever becomes the next governor of Akwa Ibom state as a good citizen of the state I will key in and support him for the betterment of our people. “I am still in the race for the governorship position f the state. Whatever happens is okay. This is politic you can’t tell the next day as at now am still the gubernatorial candidate of Democratic Alternative. I structures in the 31 local government areas of the state.” The chieftain of Advance Congress of Democrats (ACD), Prince Ezra Ededem Bassey, said his party has too many followers to consider any political redirection without intensive consultations w other members of the state at all levels. “We are ready for the forthcoming elections. We are discussing necessary modalities for the political realignment. The party national leaders and the man and woman at the grassroots must be informed about any political move that would affect their decisions “. In a telephone interview ,Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, Spokesman, Akwa Ibom State APC Campaign Council and Chairman, Committee on Information and Strategic Communication, confirmed the move by some political parties and associations to endorse the APC candidate in next month election. According to Eyiboh, “many political associations and parties have indicated interest to work not only for emergence of Obong Ekere as governor of the state but all other APC candidates in the state.”