-The Chances Of Candidates, Party Connection-How Electorates Will Vote In LGAS
By Joseph Okon
As the 2015 governorship battle
for the control of Akwa Ibom state hilltop mansion gathers momentum in the
state, more candidates have intensify their campaign strategies to win support
from the electorates. This special report will examine the chances of all the
four governorship candidates and their political parties contesting to succeed
the incumbent Governor Godswill Akpabio, the support base of each Party in all
the 31 local government areas, and council chairmen likely to betray PDP.
In the race for hilltop mansion
is a renowned financial expert cum industrialist, Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel who
is the candidate of the ruling People’s Democratic Party PDP, former Executive
Director in Zenith Bank Plc and a member in the board of African Finance Cooperation;
Obong Umana Okon Umana - the longest serving secretary to the state government
for 7 years is the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC,
Bishop Samuel Akpan - the immediate past State Deputy Chairman of the PDP, the
International Coordinator of the defunct AKPF, and a strong grasrooter now the
governorship candidate of Accord Party, and Distinguished Senator Helen Esuene,
the incumbent Senator representing Eket Senatorial District who is the wife of
the former Military Governor, Col. Esuene, is the governorship candidate of
Labour Party of Nigeria.
Though they were all members of
the ruling PDP as at last year and the PDP has the record of consistency in
governance since it came to power in 1999, no opposition party has been able to
unseat the PDP in Akwa Ibom state government house, but the likes of Umana
Umana, Sam Akpan, and Helen Esuene who have been members of PDP for years and
started their political career under PDP believe they will unseat PDP come 11
April 2015. They claim to have all the necessary strategies to defeat the
ruling PDP having been in the party for years and know the PDP strategy.
Other governorship candidates
who also work closely with the present administration seem to have seen the
achievements of the present administration though without some short comings,
but the governorship candidate of the APC, Mr Umana Okon Umana who was the
longest serving SSG in the state since the return of democracy in 1999 seems
not to see anything good about the present government having described Governor
Akpabio’s government he served for 7 years as a complete failure and
irresponsible.
In the midst of this war of
words across party lines and candidates, the ruling PDP has dismissed all
opposition claims in the state, and maintained that PDP is the only party to
beat and the only formidable political party with the right candidates in
Nigeria, assuring its supporters of total victory for the Party come 28 March
and 11 April 2015.
The
PDP Candidate, Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel
The chances of PDP retaining
its position in the state hilltop mansion are very bright, though there are
some odds against the party in some local government areas. It is widely
believed that people will go for the PDP because they have seen tangible evidence
on ground they can show for to win peoples support while other parties rely on
“will do promises” that people may not really be moved.
 |
| Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, PDP Governorship candidate in the 2015 election |
Given the quality, manifesto,
and track record of the governorship candidate of the PDP, it is very obvious
that a lot of people will support him. The way he conducts himself has clearly
shown that Mr Udom Emmanuel is a complete gentleman who has never insulted or
had any political issues with anybody in the state. A lot of people in the
state see him as a neutral person they can rely upon any time, given his humble
family and professional background. His high profile of achievements in the
private sector can also attest to the fact that the PDP governorship candidate
is intellectually sound and capable of leading Akwa Ibom state and transforming
same from the present civil service state to an industrialized state.
The impressive performance of
PDP government since 1999 in terms of infrastructural development, free
education and healthcare for pregnant women, elderly, and children, youth and
women empowerments are some of the milestone achievements of the PDP led
government which are eloquent testimonies that the party has a lot to offer.
That was why throughout the just concluded governorship campaign, the party
used it as a platform to present its score card with the assurance that the incoming
government will consolidate the achievements of the outgoing administration.
The PDP has recorded one of the
best campaigns ever in the state courtesy of Mr Udom Emmanuel who has made the
2015 gubernatorial campaign an issue based, articulation of ideas, selling of
manifesto, and getting to discuss what will be the policy thrust of the next
administration if elected into office. He does not mention anybody in his
campaign, but always take time to explain to people how he will get the funding
to execute all the projects his administration has earmarked for execution.
Though he acknowledged that no government can complete all projects, he assured
the people that he will do better. With his wide business connections and
contacts around the world, and having been saddled with the responsibility of
setting up industries and he delivered, he believes he has what it takes to industrialize Akwa Ibom.
Based on these, Mr Udom Emmanuel perfectly fits into the position he is
contesting in such a time like now, considering the dwindling oil price in the
global market.
His record shows that he is
honest, humble, reliable, trusted, and a man with the fear of God. He has been
instrumental to development in other nations. His credibility, competence, and
capacity have attracted a lot of supporters to him and the PDP.
The
APC Governorship Candidate, Mr Umana Okon Umana
The APC governorship candidate,
Obong Umana Okon Umana has served the state for many years; he started as the
Director of Budget and moved to become Commissioner for Finance for four years
in the immediate past administration of Obong Victor Attah, and was appointed
SSG by the present governor, which
position he served for 7 years before he was removed. A lot of people believe
he does not give outside his family members; Umana has a controversial record
of poor performance which he always blames on the governor.
 |
| Mr Umana Okon Umana, APC Governorship candidate for 2015 election |
In 2012, Umana was prepared by
the present governor to take over from him in 2015 but due to his impatient
nature that he could not wait until he is elected the governor, it was gathered
that he started carrying himself as the governor, and this action necessitated
Akpabio’s change of mind. Some people believe that it was the privilege given
to Umana by the governor that caused Umana to be seen then as being very
powerful. Some people claim he does not really have good public relations in
Nsit Ubium. Others claim that a lot of
people in the state do not want Umana to succeed as the next governor given his
long stay in government. People are saying that he should allow the young ones
to also come in and stop dominating the system, he is seen as not being a
gentleman but very hostile.
Most people see Umana as one who
is power drunk and can do anything to get power based on his past record of
alleged betrayal and other diabolic things he did to stay in power. Still in that mould, others are of the
opinion that Umana is too elitist, cocky, and proud person who is
discriminatory and nepostistic. They said while he was in government he did
not relate with the ordinary people but the elites, and he only bring himself
down now because he is looking for governorship. But Umana has been contesting
this fact in different occasions saying that he was accessible to all while in
office as finance commissioner and SSG, and has done a lot to help the poor and
needies in the state. Umana is currently banking on his experience as a civil
servant in the state and long stay in government to govern the state. He has
however admitted his past errors and blames them on the governor, but a lot of
people seem to disagree with him on his claims that the present government has
nothing to show with the huge financial allocations it has received. They view
Umana’s claims as a mere political talk and ungratefulness for him to describe
the government he served for 7 years as a failure, and said Umana cannot be
trusted.
The
Accord Party Candidate, Bishop Samuel Friday Akpan
The governorship candidate of
the Accord party, Bishop Sam Akpan may likely defeat his APC counterpart based
on his track record as a grassroot mobilizer and one who has a lot of grassroot
support following the key role he played in the emergence of many council
chairmen in the state.
He is believed to have received
a spiritual endorsement from Leader Olumba Obu’s son called His Holiness Roland
Olumba Obu and current head of the Brotherhood fold who claims to be the fold’s
spiritual head. About three council chairmen who are currently serving in the state
are working towards delivering Bishop Akpan.
 |
| Bishop Samuel Akpan, Governorship candidate of Accord Party in the 2015 election |
The Accord Party candidate’s
political penetration started in 2006 when he formed Akwa Ibom Peoples Forum,
AKPF, which championed the emergence of the present Governor, Chief Godswill
Akpabio, and he Bishop Akpan used his political influence then in 2007 as the Political
Adviser to the governor and International Coordinator of the defunct AKPF to
install more than 80 per cent of councilors and 50% of council chairmen then
who are still loyal to him. Bishop Akpan is believed to have a lot of grassroot
support in the entire 31 local government areas of the state. Akpan, although
is believed in some quarters to be a spiritualist, is humble and relates well
with ordinary people. He calls people closed to him by their first names which
endears a lot of people to him. Bishop Akpan believes the present government
has done well but he will improve on the achievements of the present
administration unlike his APC counterpart who sees nothing good about the
present government.
The
Labour Party Candidate, Senator Mrs Helen Esuene
Another candidate is the
distinguished Senator Helen Esuene of the Labour Party of Nigeria who is
currently representing Eket Senatorial District. A lot of people believe that
she does not give and does not have the capacity to lead the state considering
the fact that she is a woman who may not be able to contain the heat that will
be coming from the office she is seeking. Some are of the opinion that she has
not been able to give the needed voice in the Senate. Senator Esuene is
currently banking on the sympathy support of women who constitute 60 per cent
of the voting population, she is believed not to have structural and grassroot
support across the entire local government areas of the state as expected of the
office she is seeking. Another thing is the fact that she just throws herself
into the governorship race in the 11thhour to the election after a wasteful G22
agitations in Abuja.
 |
| HE, Senator Mrs Helen Esuene, Governorship candidate, Labour Party in the 2015 election |
Up until now, there are local
government areas which have not heard of her programmes apart from her Eket
Senatorial District. But Esuene also believes that the present administration
has done a lot, most importantly the free and compulsory education which she
said her administration will improve upon. She maintained that there is no
government that can complete everything and that is why government is
continuous, but the most important thing according to her is that there must be
an improvement from the previous one which the present government is doing, and
believes that there are still a lot that she could also improve upon.
Voting patterns in the
State in 2015
In Ikot Ekpene Senatorial
District PDP will take 70 percent votes in spite of the fact that the Chairman
of Abak, Ukanafun, Ikono, and Ini will want to betray the Party for APC, LP or
Accord party. But it is likely that PDP will have a total and uncompromised
victory of 90 per cent in Ikot Ekpene, Obot Akara, Essien Udim, Oruk Anam, Etim
Ekpo, and Ika, while the votes in Abak, Ukanafun, Ikono, and Ini will be shared
among the contending political parties although PDP will maintain a lead of 50
per cent in the four local government areas that are likely to be betrayed by
their council chairmen.
Etim Ekpo will be very
controversial based on the recent uncertainty of PDP victory following the
inability of the Commissioner for Special Duties to emerge as the deputy
governorship candidate who many people believe has withdrawn sponsorship of PDP
programmes in the area. APC and Accord Party may likely make some progress. APC
will penetrate in Ukanafun, Ikono, Abak, and Ini local government areas, but
nevertheless, PDP will share like 50 per cent votes in these local
governments.
In Uyo Senatorial District, PDP
will make the deepest penetrations even though it is the Senatorial District of
the APC governorship candidate, Obong Umana Okon Umana who hails from Nsit
Ubium local government area. The likes of Senator Effiong Bob, Onofiok Luke,
and Victor Brown will give Umana a tough run in Nsit Ubium which is very clear that
Umana will definitely lose in his local government based on people’s goodwill
Barr Onofiok Luke has enjoyed in the area. It is on record that Onofiok Luke’s
new campaign strategy has generated massive support for the PDP. Although the
position of the Nsit Ubium council chairman, Mr Ekpedeme Amos Akpan is not very
clear based on the fact that he was the candidate of Umana in the last local
government election. People believe that Ekpedeme was the account officer of
Umana before he became a council chairman; nevertheless, the chairman has been
denying his loyalty to Umana saying that he is committed to deliver PDP in Nsit
Ubium. As part of measures to deliver PDP, the council chairman penultimate
week had sacked the council secretary and four supervisors who were believed to
be loyal to Umana. As it is now, the PDP stands a better chance of getting 80
per cent votes in Nsit Ubium.
Etinan local government area
will be a no go area for the opposition parties. This is another local
government area that PDP will record 90 per cent victory, with the likes of
Obong Paul Ekpo, the state chairman of the ruling PDP, Pastor Andrew Uwanta who
is believed to be a great grasrooter and political mobilizer, the state Coordinator
of Goodluck Support Group GSG and International Coordinator of Akwa Ibom
Consolidation Alliance ACA. Barr Aniefiok Dennis Akpan is also believed to
be on ground in Etinan including the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of
Assembly, Elder Sam Ikon, and the Chairman of Etinan, Isantim Kenneth Okon.
Nsit Atai will share with the
opposition like APC and Accord Party but PDP will maintain a lead. This is
because of the inability of the council chairman, Mr Mark Esset to carry along
people in the area. The chairman who is the PDP candidate for Nsit Atai State
Constituency is seen as a very proud and cocky person who lacks good public
relations with his own people. If for Mark Esset alone PDP may lose Nsit Atai
but there are other factors and persons that will deliver the area to PDP,
although the APC candidate for Nsit Atai state constituency, Mr John Harry does
not also have a good reputation in the area.
Nsit Ibom will be a mixture of
PDP, APC, and Accord Party but PDP will win up to 55 per cent in the local
government leaving the other 45 per cent for APC, Accord, and Labour to share.
APC would have had a lead in Nsit Ubium if the Global Concord Editor, Mr Thomas
Thomas was not denied the APC ticket for the Federal House of Representatives
he contested primary and won. Ibsesikpo Asutan is another home of PDP as the
immediate past state chairman of PDP who is currently the commissioner for
local government and chieftaincy affairs; Prince Uwem Ita Etuk is solidly on
ground for PDP. Although he will be betrayed by the council chairman, Apostle
Ekpe James who will deliver Accord Party in the area based on his secret pact
with Bishop Sam Akpan. However, PDP will sustain a lead in the area with not
less than 60 per cent of the total votes cast. The remaining 40 per cent will
be shared between APC and Accord Party. Emman Obot of the APC who is hunted by
the nemesis of his past attitude towards his people will not make any headway
for the APC.
Uruan local government will be
another tough area for PDP which may likely lose following the denial of the
incumbent member representing Uruan, Mr Kufre Etuk the return ticket. A lot of
people in the area believe Kufre Etuk has performed and will likely vote for
him during the election which is jointly with governorship. This is why Udom is
likely to lose Uruan unless there is an internal agreement between the PDP and
APC in the area. As it is now, Uruan is the home of APC and Accord Party which
PDP may not be able to breakthrough and make a meaningful progress. The council
chairman, Mr Tonny Akan may likely cede PDP’s votes to Accord following his
recent political romance with the Accord Party governorship candidate, Bishop
Sam Akpan.
Uyo local government would have
been another APC home if not for the recent disagreement between Umana Umana
and Senator John James Akpan Udoedeghe over the 2015 governorship ticket of
APC. The crises have really affected the Party in Uyo local government as the
two factions in the APC have not agreed to work together. Recently, Udoedeghe
has issued a warning to his supporters to stay away from the Party and Umana
for now until the court ruling. Apart from that, Udoedeghe has alleged that
Umana is a criminal and cannot be allowed to govern the state. These
developments have created an opportunity for the PDP to penetrate Uyo that was
hitherto a no go area. The result of the recent survey conducted in Uyo shows
that PDP will have 40 per cent votes in Uyo with APC 50, while the remaining
10% will be shared between Accord and Labour Parties. The chairman of Uyo,
Prince Ekerete Ekpenyong who is currently romancing with the opposition party
will deliver APC in Uyo local government.
Eket Senatorial District; this
Senatorial District has three governorship candidates, Mr Udom Emmanuel of PDP,
Bishop Sam Akpan of Accord Party, and Senator Helen Esuene of Labour Party. PDP
will lead in Eket local government followed by Labour Party which will make
progress, Accord Party also will penetrate in Eket deeply, then the APC. The
chairman of Eket is secretly working to deliver APC but a lot of odds are
against APC in the area. PDP again will sustain the lead in Esit Eket local
government with the likes of Elder Ben Udobia, and Barr Bassey Dan Abia, the
Managing Director of NDDC who are committed to deliver 80 per cent votes in the
area to PDP. PDP will be closely followed in Esit Eket by Accord Party and
Labour Party, while APC will come last.
PDP will secure at least 60 per
cent win in Ibeno local government while the remaining 40 per cent will be
shared among the opposition parties, but let it be noted here that Labour Party and Accord Party will
make an appreciable impact in this area. Onna which is the home local
government of Mr Udom Emmanuel and Bishop Sam Akpan will deliver PDP. Udom who
is generally accepted as the best in Onna will give a good account of himself
as the likes of Akparawa Ephraim Inyang and others are out to mobilize more
support for Udom and PDP. Sam Akpan will not make an appreciable impact in Onna
as he has not enjoyed much support in his home like his PDP counterpart. More
people will rather go for Udom of the PDP instead of Akpan of Accord based on
their track records and capacity. It is very obvious that PDP through Udom will
win 80 per cent vote in Onna while Accord will take 10 per cent, Labour Party and
APC will share the remaining 10 per cent.
In Mkpat Enin, PDP may lose as
the deputy governor does not have the capacity to deliver the Party. The
chairman of Mkpat Enin, Mr Ephraim Akpan will deliver Accord Party, APC has
already gained grounds in the area. It will be a struggle between PDP, APC, and
Accord Party which the difference may not be much. There will be a serious gang
up against PDP in Ikot Abasi if the on-going negotiation meeting between the
Presidency and some members of G22 who are still in PDP fail to yield the
needed fruits. Sources from the area disclose that Obong Nsima Ekere, Patrick
Ekpo Otu, Mike Sebastian, and Benjamin Okoko have planned a big surprise for
the PDP in Ikot Abasi. But most people believe PDP will maintain a lead in Ikot
Abasi based on the influence of the paramount ruler of the area and other
prominent individuals, followed by Accord and Labour Parties. PDP will sweep
Eastern Obolo local government area up to 80 per cent.
Areas that will be extremely
difficult for PDP to penetrate optimally will be Oron, Mbo, and Udung Uko which
are now APC strongholds. But investigation shows that PDP will share votes in
these three local government areas, although APC will lead, and the winning
margin between APC and PDP will not be very wide, while PDP will be closely
followed by Accord and Labour Parties. PDP will lead in Urueoffong/Oruko and
Okobo with not less than 70 per cent of the total votes.
No comments:
Post a Comment