The race to Hilltop Mansion Uyo is gathering storm by the day as the political gladiators in All Progressives Congress-APC are in a hot chase to clinching the ticket. This has resulted to four prominent sons of Akwa Ibom State namely Obong Nsima Ekere, John James Akpan Udo Euhe, Solomon Okpo and Engineer Edet Efretuei all jostling to occupy the coveted Government House Uyo by May 29th 2019.
However, www.towncrier.ng has exclusively uncovered the behind the deals horse-trading activities among the foursome politicians, especially Obong Nsima Ekere, the current Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission and the former Minister of Federal Capital Territory-FCT Abuja John James Akpan Udo Euhe as both men are in secret talk over offering the sum of two billion naira N2B as settlement for Senator John James Akpan Udo Euhe to forgo his governorship bid. There has been renewed discussion on this subject matter as former Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio in the 3rd week of August, 2018 brokered a peace meeting involving Obong Nsima Ekere and Senator John James Akpan Udo Euhe at Uyo and part of those grey issues involve settlement for certain political spending already engaged by John James Akpan Udo Euhe’s group for holding unto the APC political structure since 2013 when the merger of All Congress of Nigeria-ACN and other political parties leading to the formation of All Progressive Congress-APC. This amount of money www.towncrier.ng gathered is also yet to be paid but the verbal gentleman’s agreement has been reached and it is coming from Obong Nsima Ekere, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Niger Delta Development Commission-NDDC.
Thus, if eventually paid, it will be seen as a one way ticket for Obong Nsima Ekere to grab the governorship ticket of APC in Akwa Ibom State with ease.
This deal has already received the blessing of Senator Godswill Akpabio who has told Akwa Ibom people at Ikot Ekpene during his ‘uncommon defection’ declaration that come May 29th, 2019 an APC governor will govern Akwa Ibom State who will continue with his ‘uncommon Transformation’ of all the nooks and crannies of the state.
Uncommon Defection of Obong Godswill Akpabio
Already, other aspirants for the governorship race in APC Akwa Ibom chapter are now considering other options such as forwarding names of political appointees such as Commissioners, Special Advisers, Special Assistants and eventually control of their Local Government Council’s administration which include Chairmen and Councilors nominees as that election done under the administration of Udom Emmanuel will be set aside and new Local Government Areas elections conducted in the 31 Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom state including 329 number of political wards Councilors.
Uncommon Defection of Obong Godswill Akpabio
This will help in fortifying the grassroots political structure of the coming of Obong Nsima Ekere Governorship administration come 29th May, 2019.