I was blackmailed into supporting Nsima, Presidency threatened to topple by investments, says Udoedehe

Revelations have emerged on why Senator Udoedehe decided to back Nsima Ekere for the governorship seat of the state in 2019.

Udoedehe had on Saturday in his residence told his supporters of his decision to support NDDC boss, Obong Nsima Ekere against Mr. Udom Emmanuel in next year's governorship election.

Our reporter gathered from competent sources that apart from the former Minister of FCT (State) being given huge cash, it was learnt that he was equally blackmailed into supporting the governorship ambition of Nsima Ekere with series of threat.

It was also learnt that Udoedehe's oil well was to be seized except he makes public declaration that he is fully behind Nsima Ekere.

Udoedehe is said to have also been promised a ministerial appointment if he backs Ekere and all APC candidates in the upcoming elections including President Muhammadu Buhari.

A source who spoke in confidence told our reporter that Udoedehe had to reluctantly do the bidding of  APC eggheads in Abuja even when he was not really convinced about backing Nsima.

It could be recalled that Udoedehe had vehemently rejected the primaries that threw up Nsima Ekere as governorship candidate of APC where he had said pointedly that the former deputy governor cannot be the the governorship candidate of the party in akwa Ibom State.

But his volte face, sources say, may have been informed by huge naira notes and other hefty promises he could not reject. 

One of his supporters who spoke with our reporter said he was disappointed that Udoedehe could ever support Nsima Ekere. The man who gave his name simply as Imoh, said he was at the Senator's residence on Saturday. According to him: "We were very disappointed that after all we've gone through in supporting him (Udoedehe), he had to endorse his traitor, Nsima Ekere. We are not happy, and I doubt if we will support Nsima."

THE INK gathered that though Udoedehe has made public declaration of support for Nsima Ekere, he may not support the NDDC MD fully. A reliable source who pleaded to remain anonymous said Udoedehe may not support Nsima wholeheartedly due to what he said is the interest of Uyo Senatorial district for the governorship seat in 2023.

Udoedehe hails from Uyo Senatorial district where the governorship position has been zoned to in 2023.

While he is said to have told his supporters that Nsima gave him his word that he'll do only one term, some of his supporters are not willing to buy what they described as a dummy meant to win their support.

Investigation also revealed that the reason Udoedehe had to reluctantly accept to back Nsima Ekere was because he was threatened to be expelled from the APC. Afraid of what such could portend due to the season and the future, the Uyo born politician is said to have agreed to the deal of collapsing his structure for Nsima Ekere. 

As the race for the Hilltop Mansion hots up, it remains to be seen if John James Akpanudoedehe's support for Nsima Ekere will rub off on his supporters, most of who are not in support of the Senator's decision.