With the just concluded Essien Udim re-run election that took place over the weekend, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State has once again buttressed the State as a single Political party State as three candidates of the party in a lineslide victory clinched the three seats at the Senate, Federal House of Representatives and State House of Assembly, respectively.
The results for the re-run elections are as follows; Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District: Sen. Christopher Ekpenyong of PDP won with 19,924 votes while the APC candidate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio had 6,903 votes.
For Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Nsikak Ekong of PDP clinched a total number of 20, 235 votes and his opponent of APC, Hon. Emmanuel Akpan had 6,450 votes.
In the case of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Barr. Esse Umoh of PDP won with a total number of 18, 999 votes while Hon. Nse Ntuen of APC had 7,108 votes.
With Peoples Democratic Party overwhelmingly sweeping the three positions in the just concluded Essien Udim re-run elections, the party once again proved its indubitable position as the only existing and effective political party in the State.
However, a peep into the billed-up and re-run election in Essien Udim Local Government Area, our reporter made the following observations;
AGAIN: SEN. AKPABIO DECEIVED HIS SUPPORTERS
Two days to Essien Udim re-run election, Sen. Akpabio instructed his foot soldiers to mobilise over 500 APC supporters who were mainly motorcyclists that converged in his private home in Ukana Ikot Ntuen. They were made to believe on embarking on political rally ahead of the re-run exercise.
Disappointedly, the easily deceived supporters were made to convene from 9am to 11 PM with no sight of their ‘political leader’ nor that of any candidate of the party, food was not served neither was water given to quench their dehydrating thirst.
Upon realising the Sen. has abandoned the mission, mobilisers were no way to be found, supporters became tired and fed up of being deceived but to assuage their infantile minds in anticipation for their compliance and support to maraud havoc on the election day, a paltry sum of N1000 was shared and when the peanut couldn’t go round, their thuggery nature sprung and the entire neighbourhood knew no peace nor sleep that night. That was a litmus test to what they had in stock for Essien Udim re-run election.
LEAVE MY HUSBAND OUT OF YOUR ELECTION EXPENDITURES: YOU HAVE SERVED AS A TWO TERM ALGON CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND FEDERAL HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, UNOMA AKPABIO WARNED NSE NTUEN AND EMMANUEL AKPAN
A day to Essien Udim re-run exercise, Nse Ntuen and Emmanuel Akpan were said to have allegedly presented an estimate needed to fund the exercise to Sen. Akpabio but the list met a brick wall as the wife of the Minister categorically stated that the husband shall not spend a dime in respect to the election as her husband (Sen. Akpabio) is comfortable with his Ministerial appointment. That was how the duo out of frustration came up with the not binding excuse of withdrawing from the race. (That’s what you get when trying to ride on someone’s shoulders to your dream land).
WHY NSE NTUEN CAME UP WITH THE WITHDRAWAL SCAM
Realising Akpabio is still struggling to manover his way into the Senate or better still, maintain his Ministerial appointment, in order to cover up their shame and lack of funds to pilot the election, Nse Ntuen came up with the eleventh-hour press release laced with lies upon lies declaring their decisions of withdrawing from the exercise with flimsy excuses that were far cry from the truth.
APC’S FALSE WITHDRAWAL FROM RE-RUN EXERCISE: A POLITICAL GIMMICK TOO CHEAP FOR PDP TO HAVE CAVED-IN
Political pundits observed that Akpabio’s position and other two APC candidates to rescind from the race was purely deceptive in nature, a lie that PDP is too intelligent to have bought.
It is believed that Akpabio and his partymen erroneously have this false conviction that with their news of withdrawal from the race, PDP will lose its guard, relent on campaigns and consultations, then voters apathy will set in while they unleash their mayhem of hijacking materials for their mono interest.
Bearing in mind their withdrawal was immaterial, as there was no official letter tendered to INEC and other relevant bodies, PDP in its usual manner saw the gimmicks, up its game, got prepared and ignored the unsubstantiated withdrawal.
No, PDP is a composition of intellectuals who see beyond the facial sentiment of a wailing toddler, there’s no way PDP would have given in to that cheap game.
….AND APC ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN THE ESSIN UDIM RE-RUN ELECTION EXERCISE
Paradoxically, the same man (Sen. Akpabio) who took over the media space with the news of withdrawing from the race was equally the same person who with the support of his brother Nsetip Akpabio mobilised APC thugs to man-handle any PDP supporter who dared to vote for PDP candidate at Ukana West Ward 11, unit 009 at Independence High School being the polling unit of Sen. Godswill Akpabio.
Also, initially, APC thugs had barricaded the entrance of Independence High School under the watch of heavily armed police officers from Zone – 6 Calabar, who claimed their assignment didn’t cover settling disagreements nor facilitating people’s access to polling units.
Still at Ukana West Ward 11, for fear of taking record of the malpractices staged by APC supporters, Nsetip Akpabio ordered the molestation of one Godwin Sunday, an accredited journalist by INEC who was on official duty of observing the Essien Udim re-run election exercise.
Also, in Ukana West, Ward 11 at Akpa Utong, police officers from zone-6 calabar, in collaboration with Etim Ekpo police Command spearheaded by Idorenyin Akpabio aided the hijacking of sensitive election materials, Corps members on duty and INEC officials from the unit by APC thugs to the private residence of Ibanga Akpabio in Ukana Ikot Ntuen where they were forced to thumbprint for APC candidates in the three positions, a scenario that would have represented itself in the entire units of the Local Government Aeea but for the swift counter approach from the Akwa Ibom State Police command who rescued the corps members, INEC officials and recovered the election materials.
KUDOS TO AKWA IBOM STATE GOVERNOR AND STATE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE FOR A JOB WELL DONE
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel deserves standing ovation and accolades for holding firm the fabrics of the State, above all, his prudent approach towards procedures was one outstanding virtue that gave Essien Udim and Akwa Ibom PDP the overwhelming victory last Saturday, during the Essien Udim re-run and the contributions of the State Commissioner of Police cannot be over emphasized.
Essin Udim re-run’s victory is a collective win for Akwa Ibom PDP and Akwa Ibom People.
