Latest Edition of THE INK NEWSPAPER, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

“Akpabio stops Buhari’s visit” - APC alleges

The All  Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has attributed the failure of Buhari’s visit today to Governor Godswill Akpabio. Information reaching our news desk has it that the State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio refused the APC from using the state facility due to what sources say is a grand plot to thwart the president’s elect visit due to what the governor perceives may add vim and fillip to Obong Umana Okon Umana’s chances. 

The APC alleged that the state Government’s decision to deny the party the stadium is part of Akpabio’s plan to stop the President-elect from spurring support for the APC governorship candidate, Umana Okon Umana and thus, truncating his ambition. 

2015: Chances of candidates for AKHA election

 

BY KENNETH JUDE & VICTOR UFOT

The stage is set and the die cast for a pulsating   battle for the 26 state constituency seats in the Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly. Different permutations and predictions have been thrown into the emerging political scenario in the state since the historic victory of the APC at the federal level. Hence with the changing trends in the polity, the political weather has clearly taken a turn of uncertainty as regards which party or candidates will have the last laugh when hostilities gets underway on Saturday.

As we wait the for the D day with bated b breath, THE INK brings you authoritative and exclusive analysis on how the candidates stand ahead of the long anticipated polls. In Abak state constituency, Elder Friday Iwok looks sure bet to stage a return to the 7th Assembly. He is a core PDP man and enjoys almost a cult followership in the area hence political calculations in the district favour the one term legislator. 

Governorship polls and the candidates’ chances of victory

BY KENNETH JUDE

If President Goodluck  Ebele Jonathan had  defeated General Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential election on March 28, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom state, political analysts say the party would have gone to the polls already basking in the euphoria of victory but that huge confidence has seemingly slackened with the change of baton in Aso Rock. This, in the other hand, does not mean the party’s structure has been ruptured. They are still intact but things may change drastically with the clear knowledge that if its candidate, Elder Udom Emmanuel wins, the party will be an opposition fold in the next four years or more. 

Forum of Family Heads pledge support for Udom, PDP candidates

The Forum of Family  Heads (Mbong Ekpuk) have pledged their support to ensure the victory of  the Peoples Democratic Party PDP governorship candidate of the State Mr. Udom Emmanuel at the April 11th poll.

The Forum gave the promise during a joint meeting of all chapter chairmen of the body which cut across the 31 local government areas of the State, that took place at the Transformation Initiative for Empowerment of Ibom people headquarters #2 Atiku Abubakar Way, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Speaking on behalf of Uyo Senatorial District, Obong Pius Okon Abel declared that come April 11th all village heads and their subjects shall vote en mass for Udom Emmanuel and all PDP candidates for continuity and sustainable development while Obong Sylvester Udo, Obong (Dr.) Henry Akpaneyen unanimously acknowledged that the victory of PDP rest on their shoulders given their grassroots roles in each family and promised contributing their quotas effectively by ensuring Udom Emmanuel come out victoriously at the poll.

A’Ibom Students reaffirm support for Udom Emmanuel

Students union leaders  in Akwa Ibom State  have reaffirmed their unflinching support to the gubernatorial Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Udom Emmanuel ahead of next Saturdays elections.

The Student leaders and representatives who were drawn from all the tertiary Institutions in the State converged on the popular Ibom Plaza after a carnival float around some major streets and pledged to massively mobilize to ensure victory for Mr. Udom Emmanuel as their next governor.

Leading the Students who came out in their thousands were the President of National Association of Akwa Ibom State Students, Comrade Mfon Umoh, the Student Union President of the University of Uyo, Comrade Ndianabasi Ekong, the Leader of Joint Campus Committee, Comrade Otobong Aquila, the President of the Student Union Government, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic Ikot Osurua, among others.

Polls: We will vote PDP with anger, Ibeno people vow * as Usoro Akpanusoh rounds up tour

BY EMMANUEL AKPAN

The people of Ibeno  Local Government  Area have assured the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that they will deliver the party successfully on Saturday, April 11, 2015 during the Governorship/House of Assembly elections. 

They also say their votes are sealed and will be delivered to the Akwa Ibom State PDP governorship candidate, Mr. Udom Emmanuel and the House of Assembly candidate for the party for Esit Eket/Ibeno State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Usoro Akpanusoh. 

Group warns Oro politicians “…Vote for only candidates only”

With barely few  days to the gubernatorial and States House of Assembly, a frontline masses-based non-governmental organization has again warned the people of Oron Nation to guard against the temptation of casting their votes for candidates who have no track records of achievements in their political career.

According to the President of the Common Peoples Organization – a socio-political association made up of focused grassroots pressure groups, Comrade Sunday Asukwo Antai, it is only by identifying and voting for candidates who have the interest of the masses at heart that the downtrodden will reap democratic dividends. 

APC calls for transfer of Ikot Ekpene, Obot Akara EO ... Vow to resist rigging

The APC has called on  the Akwa Ibom State  Resident Electoral Commissioner to redeploy without further delay, the Ikot Ekpene and Obot Akara Electoral Officers  for aiding the PDP rig the Presidential and National Assembly election and vowed to resist any attempt to repeat it come April 11th, 2015 during the Governorship and State Assembly elections.

In a statement issued in uyo,the party said the Electoral Officers were responsible for the hiding of result sheets, physically thumb printing ballot papers at INEC offices in Ikot Ekpene and Obot Akara and deliberately holding back some ballot papers to ensure that PDP had the upper hand and undue advantage, warning that should such acts repeat itself come April 11th, 2015, the people of the area will not condone such undemocratic act.

It’s well with A’Ibom workers under Akpabio - Unyime Usoro

Against the backdrop  that Akwa Ibom   workers are living below par with their counterparts in other states of the federation, the state Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Unyime Usoro, has stated unequivocally that “it is well with the state workers”.

Mr. Usoro stated this in his office on Monday during a special interactive session with newsmen.

He said the Union is proud of the number one citizen of the state, Governor Godswill Akpabio for his prompt response to workers’ needs which he accentuated has boost the moral of the Union in the State.

Tony Akan begs Uruan to vote PDP

…as Assembly hopeful assures of effective representation 

The Executive Chairman of  Uruan Local Government Area, Rt Hon Tony Akan has sued the support of his kinsmen to the State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio and the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in the upcoming gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections in the state. 

Pleading his people not to allow the emergence of the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC to denigrate the achievement of the Akpabio PDP led government in the state. 

From April fool to April full

 BY SAMUEL UFOT EKEKERE

I recall those little years when April  fool really mattered. I and my friends  would prepare our list of scenes that we were going to play out on unsuspecting colleagues and pray our colleagues got caught in our web. If they fell through, we’d yell “April fool”, but if not, we’d walk away disappointed and try again. 

It’s April already, and foolhardiness rents the air. Someone around the corner is about to play you an “April fool.” Perhaps you have being treated to one of those hilarious gigs already. If you have fallen for one, don’t feel bad.

The roles we played at the Presidential polls

BY PRISCILLA CHRISTOPHER
 
March 28 indeed marked a turn ing point in the life of Nigerians and members of the ruling party as what existed and held sway came crashing and thus, posed a major setback for certain ambitions, aspirations and plans. The news of the All Progressive Congress (APC) unassuming hijack of power from the incumbent government still remains a maze to thousands who believed the ruling party would continue in their rule of the nation as has been the culture. A vast majority of the populace were looking forward to having the seated government continue in its reign for as long as it had the strength to remain unbeatable even in the face of stiff opposition. 

Udom fetes A’Ibom Entertainers, assures on private sector devt

The Peoples Democratic Party governorship  candidate  in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel has assured that he will develop the private sector of the Akwa Ibom economy when he assumes office as the governor of the state.

He made this known while speaking at an endorsement street show organized in his honour by the Akwa Ibom Entertainment Movement in Conjunction with New Breed at the Nwaniba Water Fountain Roundabout in Uyo the state capital. 

He noted that having served and worked in the private sector for a larger part of his life, he has what is needed to fully develop the sector for investments to thrive. 

Guber 2015: Esuene receives endorsement from A’Ibom women

Akwa Ibom  women, mostly  market women on Tuesday in Uyo adopted Senator Helen Esuene of the Labour Party (LP) as their sole candidate in the forth-coming April 11, gubernatorial election in the State.

The women numbering over 2000 received Senator Esuene at Urua Akpanandem market Uyo, when she visited the market in continuation of her state wide voters education exercise.

Madam Atim Okon, speaking on behalf of the elated woman said Senator Helen Esuene is God-sent to Akwa Ibom people, most especially women, adding that they had long began mobilizing women all over the State to vote for her come Saturday April 11, 2015.

Umana is symbol of struggle to free A’Ibom – Oro people

The people of Oro ethnic group in  Akwa Ibom State has described the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Umana Okon Umana as a symbol of a struggle to stop Governor Godswill Akpabio from turning the state into his fiefdom.

The people also said that Umana Okon Umana through his words and actions has shown deep appreciation of the plight of Oro and that he has promised to correct the wrongs if elected governor.

Oros are the third largest ethnic group in Akwa Ibom State. The people spoke through their apex youth orgainisation, Nlap Isong Akpakip Oro, during a press conference held on Wednesday at the Oron Civic Centre, Oron.

Esuene expresses optimistic over her success in gubernatorial elections

Sen. Helen Esuene,  representing Eket Senatorial District  has expressed optimism over her success in the gubernatorial elections which is coming up on April 11, 2015.

Esuene who is contesting under the platform of Labour Party, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom on Wednesday.

“I am very positive that I will emerge the winner of the forthcoming gubernatorial elections on the platform of Labour Party.

“Labour Party is an emerging Political Party in the country and we are gaining grounds. I am very positive that the party will take over governance in the state at the April 11 elections,’’ she said.

She said “in the history of Akwa Ibom, women have never contested for the governorship position.

Nelson Efiong supporters re-affirm PDP success come April 11 …Solicit steadfastness, total loyalty

Supporters of the Senators-elect for Eket Senatorial District, Rt. Hon. Chief Nelson Efiong have vowed to remain undaunted in voting massively for the People’s Democratic Party in the April 11 gubernatorial and State Assembly Polls in spite of the unfavourable outcome of the March 28 Presidential election which placed  Retd General Buhari as Winner.

Accordingly, the Chief Nelson Efiong Campaign Organization has resolved to continue in the sensitization of its teeming supporters, electorate as well as admirers and followers to vote massively for PDP in this Saturday’s elections.

2015: Udom parleys with Academic community

It was indeed a meeting point of the mind, a confluence of thoughts and a celebration of intellectual flourishes when the PDP Gubernatorial Candidate, Deacon Udom Gabriel met with the members of the Akwa Ibom Academic community on Sunday, April 5, at the R&R Restaurant, Ibrahim Babangida Way, Uyo.

Billed as an interactive session with the Academia, it sure lived upon to its expectation, as Deacon Udom, speaking extempore and in full command of facts and figures engaged the academic community on what contours and plank his administration will take upon his inauguration on May 29, 2015.
For over one hour, Udom, looking supremely relaxed and in command of his space proved to the community why he is the right deal for the right moment for Akwa Ibom people.

Curbing electoral fraud and Saturday polls

Diverse arguments have been thrown into the sudden and most volcanic annihilation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last presidential election held on March 28. Against all the odds, political permutations and calculations and the most vicious and scathing of attacks, the Katsina state Daura born former military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari braved all the obstacles, manmade and natural, to coast home to victory by defeating the much vilified incumbent President, His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. In as much as Buhari’s victory was unprecedented and historic, the felicitous and courageous move by President Goodluck Jonathan to concede defeat and calling in to congratulate the General was even more heart warming.

It has never happened before in the annals of Africa let alone Nigeria. That singular act by Goodluck Jonathan was not just soothing but it went a long way to douse the mounting tension and doomsday prophecies that had preceded the 2015 elections in Nigeria. It was said that Nigeria will disintegrate this year.