By Ezeocha Nzeh
The senatorial ambition of DIG Idom Elpundum (rtd) in 2023 general elections, received some boost at the weekend, following his endorsement by some party stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom
The group in a statement issued at the end of its meeting at Ikot Expene, emphasised the need for the senatorial zone to have a fresh and more vibrant representation at the next senate, arguing that since the creation of the state, the Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency has remained the only part of the district that has not produced a senator.
The communique which was signed by over 50 delegates also indicated that the motion was moved by the the zones’s Senatorial Chairman, Dr. Amadu Atai and seconded by his Co-Chairman, Chief Godwin Afangideh.
The communique reads in parts; “That the Akwa Ibom North West (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial District Senatorial seat so zoned to Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency for the 2023 elections, call on DIG Udom Ekpoudom (rtd) OON to run for the office of the Senate for Akwa Ibom North West (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial District on the platform of the APC in 2023”.
It was however gathered that former governor and minister of Niger Delta Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, is nursing another ambition to return to the Senate in 2023
The meeting which was attended by members from the 10 Local Government Areas that make up the District, deliberated extensively on the state of affairs in the Senatorial District as it affects the APC.
It added; “The meeting deliberated extensively on the Senatorial District zoning arrangement, as it affects the four Federal Constituencies that make up the District. From the data provided at the meeting, it was observed that:”
Continuing, the statement noted further that “Ini/Ikono Federal Constituency had its slots for two tenures with Sen. Aloysius Etok;
“Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Federal Constituency had its share for five tenures since inception of democracy in Nigeria from 1963 with Sen. Raymond Umoh, Sen. Nsima Akpabio, Sen. Emmanuel Ibokessien, HE, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, CON and Sen. Christopher Ekpenyong;
“Ukanafun/OrukAnam Federal Constituency had its share for three tenures with Sen. Donald Etiebet, Sen. Akaninyene Ukpanah and Sen. Itak Bob Ekarika and Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency had none till date.”
The meeting also did an assessment of the performance of the Party’s Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and lauded the Chairman of the Committee and governor of Yobe state, Mai Mala Buni and the National Secretary, Sen. John Akpanudoedehe for piloting the affairs of the party since two years ago, even as it extended its gratitude to President Muhammmadu Buhari for always supporting Akwa Ibom State in general and Akwa Ibom North West (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial District in particular
