Ahead 2019: Abak Urban ward 4 rejects Udeme Otong …Prefers Innocent Idiong, Godknows Ukpe

Ahead 2019: Abak Urban ward 4 rejects Udeme Otong

…Prefers Innocent Idiong, Godknows Ukpe

The aspiration of one of the leading contenders for the Abak State Constituency Seat, Elder Udeme Otong has suffered a major setback barley few weeks to the Primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the people of Abak Urban Ward 4 have disassociated themselves with his aspiration.

Arising from a powerful stakeholders meeting arranged to select a consensus candidate among the three aspirants that have so far emerged from the Ward, the people explained that Elder Udeme Otong is partly from Ikot Ekpne local government area and as such, should go back and contest for the Ikot Ekpene State Constituency Seat.

The meeting which took place at the residence of the political Leader of the Ward, had in attendance Elders, PDP executive members, Women and Youth leaders, serving and former Councilors.

Speaking with journalists at the end of the meeting, a Chieftain of the party Elder E. Umanah said the people of the Ward are not happy with Elder Udeme Otong because according to him, Elder Otong has not touched the lives of the people of the Ward despite holding key positions such as the Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) Akwa Ibom State Chapter. The PDP chieftain pointed out that Elder Udeme Otong has never voted in any election in Abak until recently and suggested that his party membership card (if he has) may be from Ikot Ekpene since he been doing all his businesses in Ikot Ekpene over the years.

Also speaking, a former Councilor who represented the Ward in Abak Legislative Council hinted that Elder Otong has been boasting that he brought investors to the state for the establishment of the Syringe factory and as such, the state Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel and his brother advised him to contest for the House of Assembly Seat as a way of compensation. 

“Truly, Udeme Otong is from Abak Itenge Village in our Ward, but over the years, he has invested in Ikot Ekpene. He has a pharmacy and a big hospital. Ask him how many people from Abak has he employed among all the staff working under him? He has served as a two-term Chairman of NANNM in the State, ask him how many indigenes of Abak has he assisted to join the nursing profession. Secondly, since God has blessed him, how many people from Abak has he impacted positively on their lives”, the former Councilor queried.

Others who spoke including Mfon F. Umoh (Utu Abak), Ekponoimo Sunday (IKot Ekang) and Gabriel Lucky Akpan (Abak Itenge) said they are comfortable with the  aspiration of Rev. (Dr.) Innocent Idiong and Mr. Godknows Ukpe.

They stated that Elder Udeme Otong is not popular and cannot win election even in his village not to talk of his Ward.

They advised the leadership of the party in the state to come to Abak and conduct opinion polls before giving ticket, stressing that if the party gives ticket to Elder Otong, APC would win election in Abak. “Throughout his life, all his investment has been in Ikot Ekpene and nobody from Abak has benefited. I wonder why he should return to Abak now to contest”, one of the youth leaders stated.

The Youth Leaders pointed out that Rev. Idiong has the interest of the people of the Ward at heart as demonstrated though the establishment of Palmgrove Community.

They stated that the people of the Ward have benefited from the establishment of Palmgrove Community. “Even if they give him the ticket, Elder Udeme Otong would not win the general election because he is not popular, especially now that APC is posing serious threat,” one of the women leaders stated.