Pst. Umo Eno, the immediate past Commissioner for Land and Water Resources, was elected governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State during the recently concluded State Congress held at the Nest of Champions in Uyo.
He has urged co-contenders to join in promoting the Party’s collective interest.
Eno secured the coveted party ticket in a hotly contested primary election of the Party, emerging among 14 qualified hopefuls for the party ticket to run for the Hill Top job in 2023, with a total of 993 votes polled from more than a thousand legitimate ballots.
While accepting his nomination on Wednesday, May 25, the Nsit Ubium born entrepreneur expressed satisfaction with the process and expressed gratitude to the delegates for deeming him fit to be the party’s standard bearer, appealing to his co-contenders, whom he described as fellow promoters of the Akwa Ibom project, to join hands in ensuring the PDP’s continued upward movement.
“I offer a hand of friendship to my fellow competitors; every one of you has put up a valiant fight.
Let us join hands and take this state to the next level so that our party can continue to thrive. I will work with you, I will listen to your ideas, let us join hands and take this state to the next level so that our party may continue to thrive “, he explained.
While congratulating the candidate, Governor Udom Emmanuel said that the will of the party’s men and women had been reflected in the nomination process, which he said had gone further to strengthen the party’s democratic system, encouraging other aspirants to join in the party’s and state’s larger interests.
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As he puts it, “The light of progress should not be extinguished.
The party will shortly form a reconciliation committee to handle all concerns and difficulties. A governor can only be one person, while a government can be made up of numerous people.”
Earlier in his remarks, the PDP’s State Chairman, Elder Aniekan Akpan, reassured the party faithful and Akwa Ibomites of a free, fair, and credible nomination process that will produce the best candidates for the election, adding that the PDP will not relent in its efforts to produce people-centric leaders.
“Let me reassure all candidates and supporters that we will maintain a level playing field for everybody.
Whoever emerges from this process will almost certainly be the people’s choice.
I am convinced that the best candidate would finally be elected as the party’s governorship candidate in 2023 “, added the Chairman.
On his part, the Chairman of the Congress committee for Akwa Ibom PDP, Comr. Philip Shaibu, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, reiterated the Party’s guideline on credible voting, reminding party stakeholders and faithful of the greater goal of developing Akwa Ibom and rescuing Nigeria through the 2023 elections.
There were a total of 1018 eligible delegates in the Governorship primaries, which were held in accordance with Section 84 (8) of the Electoral Act 2022, with 14 cleared aspirants standing for election.
