2019 SDP Presidential Candidate joins APC
…May be Eyeing Ikot Ekpene Senatorial Seat
All Progressives Congress, APC in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District got a major boost last week. A former Presidential candidate of Social Democratic Party, SDP, Engineer Clement Jumbo joined the party.
He had earlier registered his membership with the party during the last membership registration and revalidation exercise across the country. Last week, he met with his Abak Urban Ward 1, Eden Idim Manta executive and members of the party to socialize with them.
CitizensWatch reporter, Uniyime Ene was there and caught the exciting moment where members of the ward spoke glowingly about Engr Jumbo and the fast step he has taken in joining Nigeria’s ruling party which they reasoned is the better and easiest route to power at any level in Nigeria today.
While speaking, Engr Jumbo gave insight to his presidential ambition which he lost in 2019 to President Buhari of APC. Engr Clement Jimbo, an infant terrible said he joined politics to better the lot of the people of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State and his Senatorial District in particular. Contrary to believe, he said his joining the Presidential race was not a show of financial might but a genuine and well calculated attempt at reinventing Nigeria’s political wheels for the betterment of the country. He said he believes that Nigeria can feed her citizens and provide other basic amenities such as housing if sincere leadership was put in place. According to him, President Buhari had demonstrated that social welfare which for a long time had eluded Nigeria can be possible like what is obtained in advanced democracies of the world and urged that Nigerians should support the President and the party.
On why he joined the APC, Engr Jumbo told his audience that the strength of a political party is critical to actualisation of aspirations by members of the party. He said he joined the APC because of her membership strength and progresive ideologies which support his knack for development of both the land and the people.
Engr Clement Jumbo hails from Ediene in Abak local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. A Quantity Surveyor and graduate of University of Uyo, Engr Jumbo is managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mentagon Nigeria Limited. He is also an Executive member of Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors.
Engr Jumbo said he is passionate about working to ensure that All Progressives Congress, APC forms the next government in Akwa Ibom State to drag what he described as “extraordinary dividends of democracy and social welfare packages to the state”. He called for support for the party from his ward and the entire state saying APC holds the key of development for the state.
Speaking earlier, the ward Chairman, Hon Augustine Etim had expressed happiness at the strength of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District to have moulded Engr Clement Jumbo to a political enigma who could run for the presidency of Nigeria. The ward Chairman said he was impressed at the achievements recorded by Engr Jumbo saying he will achieve greater heights in politics especially as joins the ruling party. While welcoming the big fish to APC, Hon Etim who was flanked by top dignitaries in the ward including a former Vice Chairman of Abak, Hon Joe Ikpaisong said APC as a party is a platform that grows dreams to actualisation.
Feelers from the meeting indicated that Engr Jumbo may be eyeing Ikot Ekpene Senate Seat in 2023. The agitation has been on in Abak 5, a section of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District where Engr Jumbo hails from to fill the Senate seat in 2023. It was the turn of Abak 5 to produce Senator for Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District in 2011, 2015 and 2019. Political exigencies of the time robbed the zone of the seat when Senator Aloysius Etok from Ikono / Ini Federal Constituency (2011), Chief Godswill Akpabio from Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency (2015) and Engr Chris Ekpeyong, sitting Senator filled the seat in 2019. The thinking at the moment is that Abak 5 should run for the Senate after Chris Ekpeyong. Engr Jumbo, a young and very dynamic politician may be angling to fill the gap. Sources told the Press that the journey has started. Things will be very clear in the days ahead.
