Udom is Akpabio’s cousin, says G22

Members of the G22 have described Udom Gabriel Emmanuel as a maternal cousin to Governor Akpabio whom the state Chief Executive is trying to impose on the people of the state. The group stated this in a release made available to our newsroom and signed by the 22 aggrieved aspirants who walked out of the PDP nomination exercise that was held some weeks ago at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium, Uyo.

Our reporter who has been monitoring this matter of the Governor, the former SSG and the twenty two PDP aspirants informed that after the Abuja vacation court had vacated the injunction that barred the PDP from presenting Udom as the winner of the said nomination, the State Governor had invited the 22 aspirants to a meeting but they refused asking that the Governor rather visit them in their make shift secretariat in Abuja.

The Governor is said to have eventually arrived in company of the state Party Chairman Obong Paul Ekpo, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Elder Sam Ikon, Sir Emem Akpabio, Barr Enoidem, Udom Emmanuel. At the meeting, tempers are said to have flared up between Akpabio and Assam Assam. The ex Attorney General is said to have told the Governor to shut up as he is a small boy who cannot cajole them. The two men are said to have been separated by both parties as a physical exchange of blows was getting nearer than expected.

At the end of the meeting last Friday, the Governor is said to have told the aspirants to summarize their grievances in writing. And acting in accordance with the Governor’s instruction, the G22 issued a letter where they completely say No to the imposition of Udom. According to them, they said Udom is Akpabio’s maternal cousin and the process in which he emerged was skewed to favour the Onna born banker. They said they rejected Udom, Akpabio’s maternal cousin, because the processes of his alleged emergence were fundamentally flawed and totally unacceptable.  

The Forum commended Governor Godswill Akpabio for initiating a meeting with all the 23 governorship aspirants in Abuja on Friday and for expressing his willingness to, jointly with them, find a way of resolving the impasse that has engulfed the governorship primaries of the party in Akwa Ibom State.

The Forum agreed with the Governor that the only realistic approach to the effectual resolution of the matter was an urgent meeting between the National Leader of the Party/Mr President, the National Leadership of the Party, the Governor and the 23 Governorship aspirants in the botched primaries
The Forum said the letter was written at the instance of the Governor to enable him arrange the said meeting and accelerate the process.  

The Forum declared its resolute commitment to the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Forum expressed hope that collectively the matter would be harmoniously brought to successful close in due deference to transparency, democracy and good political conduct, bearing in mind the ultimate desire that PDP not only retains Akwa Ibom State but provides a leading light in the support of the re-election of President Jonathan which the current political situation in the state completely negates.