In A’Ibom, YPP Fails To Make Impact * As Etiebet Fails To Stop Akpabio

The up-coming Young Progressives Party, YPP, in Akwa Ibom State failed to make an impressive outing in the state during last Saturday’s election. None of its candidates, including Ephraim Inyangeyen was able to win.
The party has been touted to be the party to beat in the state. Its gubernatorial candidate, Senator Albert Oba has been the driving force behind the strength of the YPP in the state. But he could not do much to save any of the candidates.

VICTORY SPEECH BY DR ALEX EGBONA, RETURNING MEMBER-ELECT, ABI/YAKURR FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY

But Senator Godswill Akpabio had a dramatic outing and was able to beat the PDP candidate for the Ikot Ekpene senatorial election, Emmanuel Enoidem. Enoidem had the backing of the governor, Udom Emmanuel, as well as a former minister of petroleum and chieftain of the APC, Don Etiebet.
But Akpabio was able to secure victory for himself. He is the only candidate of the APC to have won. Aniekan Bassey of the PDP won the Uyo senatorial district seat, while Ekong Sampson won the Eket senatorial seat, defeating Inyangeyen.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in early hours of Monday declared Senator Godswill Akpabio of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial election.
Declaring Akpabio as the winner of the contest for the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, Professor Anthony Udoh said that the former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, satisfied all conditions to be declared the winner having polled 115,401 valid votes.

VICTORY SPEECH BY DR ALEX EGBONA, RETURNING MEMBER-ELECT, ABI/YAKURR FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY

The candidate of the peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Mr Emmanuel Enoidem, who came a distant second, polled 69,838 votes.
In his reaction shortly after his declaration as the winner of the Senatorial contest, the former governor of the state thanked the people who trooped out enmase to cast their votes for him, promising to represent them well at the red chamber.

According to Akpabio, “I stand before you all this morning to personally and publicly register my appreciation for the show of love and support which led to my victory today. I am very grateful because you did not allow your conscience to be bought over even when they brought money from Uyo. You rejected their money and voted for me.
He also disclosed that “serious attempts were made by the state government to truncate this victory just as they did in 2019, but your resolve to protect this mandate has led to this well deserved victory. I am very grateful and I won’t take this for granted.”

VICTORY SPEECH BY DR ALEX EGBONA, RETURNING MEMBER-ELECT, ABI/YAKURR FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY

As predicted in a TNN analysis, Mr Unyime Idem, the House of Reps member from Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency won his second term mandate without stress.
The Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State on Projects monitoring, Elder Amos Udom has already hailed Idem for the victory.
Udom spoke shortly after the declaration of Idem as winner of the election by the Returning officer, Professor Idara Akpabio at INEC office, Monday in Ukanafun Local Government.

The governor’s aide who described the success of Idem at the election as well deserved, explained that the federal lawmaker had during the last four years provided leadership by example as reflected in various life touching projects attracted to the federal constituency.
Udom posited that the federal lawmaker had changed the narratives of representation, mentioning the empowerment of 5000 constituents, sponsoring of 17 Bills, 16 motions among other laudable initiatives as programmes that endeared him to many.

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Meanwhile, the PDP governorship campaign team has expressed appreciation to the people of the state for assisting in the successes recorded by the party during last Saturday’s election.
Prince Chris Abasieyo, spokesperson of the Umo Eno campaign council said in a statement that “it is gratifying to note that the PDP has again swept the polls in Akwa Ibom State. From the results declared so far by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has an unassailable lead in the state. Similarly, the PDP, as usual, has won the majority of National Assembly seats.

“We are appreciative that our people have heeded the appeal of our performing governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, and made a statement to Nigeria that Akwa Ibom remains a PDP stronghold. It has been so since 1999 and we cannot thank our people enough.
“We appeal to our people to make a bigger statement in the March 11, 2023 gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections by voting overwhelmingly for the PDP Gubernatorial Candidate, Pastor Umo Eno, and the 26 House of Assembly Candidates.

VICTORY SPEECH BY DR ALEX EGBONA, RETURNING MEMBER-ELECT, ABI/YAKURR FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY

“Voting for Pastor Eno means voting for the sustainable peace and progress Governor Udom Emmanuel is anchoring and a propeller for Akwa Ibom to ARISE (Agricultural Revolution, Rural Development, Infrastructural Maintenance/Advancement, Security Management and Educational Advancement). It means voting for a Golden Era with a Golden Pastor as a Golden Governor.
“We seize this opportunity to commend the teeming PDP faithful in the state for working so hard to achieve Saturday’s victory and being peaceful despite the provocation of the desperate and violent opposition.”