With 7 candidates cleared set to contest the governorship position in Akwa Ibom state, political pundits have narrowed the tussle to two leading candidates of the People’s Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress, while Accord Party and Labour Party may have to wait.
Despite the crisis that have rocked PDP in Akwa Ibom, leading to the defection of tens of thousands to various political parties, the PDP still remains the party to beat in the forthcoming general elections.
Unquestionably a PDP state since the advent of democracy in 1999, the party as graciously grown to such a level that Akwa Ibom could be described as its headquarters annex.
Perching on the wings of a flourishing relationship with President Goodluck Jonathan and his unwavering influence on the PDP, Governor Akpabio overcame the vociferous tantrums of political stakeholders like former Governor Victor Attah, Chief Don Etiebet, the G22 among others to install Udom Gabriel Emmanuel as the party’s governorship standard bearer.
Although many have kicked and shouted against Udom’s emergence as governorship candidate of the PDP, the support by government is expectedly increasing his support base by the day.
Having been Executive Director Investment Banking at Zenith Bank, political analysts strongly believes that Udom Emmanuel boast of the requisite know-how and connections to attract foreign and local investments more than any contender for the plum job.
But the grouse against Udom, political pundits claim is the shammed manner by which he emerged the PDP governorship candidate and the perceived plot that if he wins, Governor Akpabio will end up doing a third term by ruling the state through a proxy in the person of Udom Emmanuel.
Set to give the Udom the greatest fight is Obong Umana Okon Umana, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress.
Umana, a thorough bred bureaucrat rose through the ranks to become Commissioner of Finance in Victor Attah’s administration and then Secretary to the State Government for 6 years in the administration of Governor Godswill Akpabio.
His appointment as SSG was a reimbursement for the eye-popping support the incumbent received from Umana who at the time was Commissioner for Finance.
Umana who is from Uyo senatorial district dumped the PDP after he was tactically removed from governorship race following the decision of the PDP State Working Committee and National Working Committee to play the script of Akpabio by zoning the governorship position to Eket senatorial district.
He left with over 5,000 of his supporters and many more PDP loyalists who are disgruntled continue to leave in droves for the APC.
Hitherto, Umana’s chances against the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP is put at 50-50 by political pundits, adding that the outcome of the Presidential election will go a long way in determining who wins between the duo.
The just concluded presidential election which favoured General Muhammadu Buharai of the APC has inadvertently changed the political arithmetic in the state as most PDP faithfuls have diasorganiz3ed their camps and realigned with the APC. According to a strong PDP stalwart in the state, Ubong Okon Ikot Edem, “Akwa Ibom cannot play opposition, we must vote for Umana Okon Umama to enable us connect with the government at the centre.”
Going by emerging signs from the political arena, Umana of the APC may likely emerge victorious at the end of the day taking into consideration the overwhelming majority of Ibibio nationality where he comes from. The erstwhile Secretary to Government may likely get over 50 percen of votes from his nationality, over 20 percent from Oro nation where running mate, \Engr Ben Ukpong hails from is. The remaining 30 percent of the votes in Ikot Ekpene and Eket senatorial district may likely go to Udom who seems to have gained more grounds in these areas more than Umana because of the influence of the Governor.
Umana is enjoying the support of 2 members of the PDP Board of Trustees, immediate past Governor, Obong Victor Attah and Otuekong Don Etiebet who recently gave his governorship aspirations a major boost by showing up at his mega campaign rally at Uyo to declare their support for him.
Haters of Udom are always quick to say that he is only 2 years in the PDP which unquestionably should disqualify him to contest any elective position in the party, coupled with the 22 aggrieved aspirants of the party who till date are incensed by the manner they were neglected by the party that they helped to build in the state.
Words from the grapevine have it that most of them although, still in the PDP are working discreetly to see to it that Udom fails in aspirations to become the next Governor of the state.
Although, Akpabio can be said to be Udom’s number one supporter but recent internal squabbles in the party coupled with his unholy submission that his wife recommended Udom to be Governor has further rubbed salt on injury as the people are further angered by the governor’s vociferous tantrums.
Also in the race, is the revered erstwhile State Deputy Chairman of the PDP and the governorship candidate of Accord Party, Bishop Samuel Akpan Bishop Sam Akpan, just like Umana played a key role towards the emergence of Chief Godswill Akpabio with a promise by the Governor who then was a governorship aspirant that he would support the Bishop to become the next governor of the state.
However that purported arrangement did not materialize, leading to frostiness in their relationship and the exit of the clergy from the umbrella party.
Although the Bishop has claimed that millions of his supporters have moved from the PDP to Accord Party, political pundits still believe he does not possess the wherewithal to challenge Udom and Umana.
And also in the contest is the last minute entrant, Senator Helen Esuene, a serving senator representing Eket Senatorial district and the governorship candidate of Labour Party.
Senator Helen Esuene, a member of the G22 (twenty-two aggrieved PDP governorship aspirants) ditched People’s Democratic Party for Labour Party over the fraudulent manner the party’s governorship primaries was conducted to favour the Governor Akpabio’s candidate.
Perhaps this explains her choice of a member of the G22, David Okon as her running mate.
But many pundits do not see this happening as some members of the G22 are being rumoured to have been gratified to support Udom, some are bemused pondering what action to do but certainly not indulging in anti-party activities.
How they intend supporting two of their own (Esuene and Okpon) is a great spectacle to behold.
But taking into consideration Bishop’s followership in the state and Esuene’s momentous support from Eket senatorial district, political pundits do not rule out completely the chance of either of these two upsetting Umana Umana and Udom Emmanuel who are dubbed the major contenders in the race for the 2015 governorship race in Akwa Ibom state.