* MacJoe, Ex-Deputy Speaker say decision very apt.
* He has the financial muscle - State APC Chairman
Strongman of the All Progressive Congress, APC Obong Umana Okon Umana has dropped his 2019 gubernatorial ambition and has opted for the seat of Senate for Uyo Senatorial District, aides of the former SSG told THE INK reporter in Uyo, a fortnight ago.
Umana’s decision, it was gathered is because his political advisers having assessed the Sentiments on ground and have revealed to him that the political tempo in the state will only favour a candidate from Eket Senatorial District in 2019.
It was also gathered that Obong Umana hopes to get to the Senate in order to prepare for the contest for the soul of the Hilltop mansion by 2023.
Although Umana’s media handlers would not comment on the matter when contacted, it was revealed to our political Desk that Obong Umana Okon Umana is equally uncertain about his victory as the APC candidate for the governorship position especially as Senator John Udoedehe has openly declared war with him in the APC.
Sources close to Umana Okon Umana in an interaction with our reporter described the Ex SSG’s Senate move as a welcome ambition. They averred that Obong Umana stands a chance of getting the APC ticket as a candidate for Uyo Senatorial District as against picking the guber ticket of the party ahead of 2019.
A member of Umana Okon Umana’s 2015 guber campaigns and former Deputy Speaker of AKHA Aniefiok Thompson while speaking on Umana Okon Umana’s Senate ambition said it was commendable.
Thompson who confided in some APC faithful last week is said to have mentioned to the party members that Obong Umana is definitely joining the Senate race. He appealed to party faithful not to lose hope but work together as 2019 will smile on all of them especially as UOU is joining the Senate race for Eye Senatorial District.
Another Umana Okon Umana die-hard supporter who is alleged to have spoken on Umana’s Senate bid is a former Chairman of Itu Local Government Area Michael James Etim (MacJoe)
The ex Itu Council boss whose is said to have described Umana Okon Umana as a man of peace, a man of the people and a leader with human sympathy maintained that Umana’s Senate ambition is Divine and timely.
The former council Chairman is said to have maintained that when Umana Umana eventually steps into the Senate race for 2019 that Uyo Senatorial District will have a better representation.
Going by calculations in Umana Okon Umana’s camp, the EX SSG will get the APC Uyo Senate ticket on a platter of gold as Umana’s promoters believe that there is no good candidate or aspirant from Uyo Senatorial District that can match the former APC guber candidate’s political process.
The APC Chairman in the state Mr. Amadu Attai while confiding in a member of the State Working Committee of the party said, the party will have to give Umana the ticket to contest the Uyo Senatorial District election as a compensation to the lose the Ex SSG incurred when he ran and lost election on the platform of the APC as her governorship candidate in 2015. He is also alleged to have mentioned to the SWC member that the party will need people with much financial strength and that he has looked through and has not seen anyone from the party in Eye Senatorial District that can match Umana’s financial prowess.
THE INK can report that if Umana Okon Umana is really interested in the Senate race, then he will in the APC have to contend with Udoedehe’s faction before squaring up with the PDP when the time is ripe. More revelations subsequently…
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