2023: Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District Leaders Forum rejects Akpabio, adopts Enoidem for senate
A few days before the Senatorial election, political leaders under the auspices of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District Leaders Forum rejected the candidacy of Senator Godswil Akpabio, All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.
This is contained in a Communique issued at the end of a well-attended meeting of the forum at Ritman University, Ikot Ekpene on Monday, 21st February 2023.
the forum which comprises political party leaders across various political parties, elders statesmen in Ikot Ekpene senatorial district unanimously adopted and endorsed Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who is favoured by the zoning formula in the senatorial district.
The communique reads in full:
Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District Leaders Forum, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State. A Communique on our position with respect to the February 25, 2023 Akwa Ibom North West (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial District Election
Preamble
In view of the need to maintain the prevailing peace, unity, progress, growth, development and prosperity in Akwa Ibom North West (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial District, we the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District Leaders, met to brainstorm, analyse and evaluate issues relating to the forthcoming February 25, 2023 Senatorial election and the future of our Senatorial District and do hereby state and resolve as follows;
1. That we commend all Sons and Daughters of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District for their efforts personally and collectively towards the development of the Senatorial District from 1960 till date mostly on zoning of the Senatorial seat that has always fostered peace and unity in the district.
2. That we are conscious of the fact that, in the last 24 years, since the advent of the Fourth (4th) Republic in 1999, three (3) out of the four (4) Federal Constituencies in the Senatorial District have had a Representation at the Senate, viz a- viz Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, (1999-2003) Ikot Ekpene federal Constituency; Senator Itak Bob Ekarika, (2023-2007) Ukanafun Oruk Anam Federal Constituency; Senator Aloysius Etok (2007-2011/2011-2015) Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency, Senator Godswill Akpabio (2015-2019) Ikot Ekpene federal Constituency; and Senator Christopher Ekpeyong (2019-2023) Ikot Ekpene federal Constituency.
3. from the above statistics, it is obvious that only Abak federal Constituency has never had a representative in the Senate in the 4th Republic, whereas, Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency has represented us for 4 years, Ikot Ekpene federal Constituency has represented us for 12 years while Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency represented us for 8 years.
4. That when it was the turn of Abak Federal Constituency in 2007, they were persuaded to allow our Ibibio brothers from Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency to have a shot, as a sacrifice and balance, to enable the then Governor H.E Godswill Akpabio, win the elections for the two terms he served.
5. That in 2015, when it was the turn of the Abak federal Constituency, again, they sacrificed their turn to Ikot Ekpene federal Constituency as compensation to the former Governor, H.E Godswill Akpabio.
6. That even in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Republics, other federal constituencies had the privilege of producing Senators, Viz -a- Viz Senator Raymond Umoh (1963-1969) Ikot Ekpene federal Constituency, Senator Donald Etiebet (1979-1982) Ukanafun Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, Senator Nsima Akpabio (1983-1984) Ikot Ekpene federal Constituency and Senator Akaniyene Ukpanah (1992-1993) Ukanafun Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, Abak federal Constituency, again, had no representation.
7. based on the foregoing, and in the interest of the peace, unity, progress and harmonious co-existence of the Senatorial District, we hereby urge no one from the other three federal Constituencies to contest the 2023 Senatorial election.
8. That the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District Elders as Sons and Daughters of the Senatorial District, hereby resolve that the 2023 Senate seat should be *solely and solemnly* reserved for Senatorial candidates from Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency
9. That we do hereby take this decision as representatives of the various communities as a communal effort and social contract we owe the people and as such, we urge all eligible voters from the Senatorial District to use their PVC’s on Saturday, February 25, 2023, to enforce this decision by voting for Barr Emmanuel Enoidem, having been picked as the strongest candidate among the array of candidates from Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency and vote for him to emerge as the next Senator for our Senatorial District.
10. That the Ikot Ekpene (Akwa Ibom North West) Senatorial District Leaders Forum despises the action of Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, from Ikot Ekpene federal Constituency, which has produced Senators five times with two from his family, the Akpabios including himself, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, for not listening to the voice of reasoning, brotherliness, fairness, and equity in the District, to drop his ambition to contest again but to give a chance to Abak federal Constituency that has not tasted the seat in 63 years. Senator Godswill Akpabio is reminded that the Abak federal Constituency has sacrificed its chances greatly to help him win the governorship in 2007 and 2011, and again to honour him as an Ex-Governor to go to the Senate in 2015.
His refusal to respect the decision of the Leaders of the Senatorial District, to solely allow someone from Abak federal Constituency this time around, is nothing else but an arrogant exhibition of selfish ambition, which is capable of destroying the fabric if unity, fairness and peace which have characterized the Senatorial elections in the District since 1960.
This is why we, the political leaders of the Senatorial District have unanimously, irrespective of political party affiliations, endorsed and adopted Barr Emmanuel Enoidem of Abak Federal Constituency to be voted for in the District to win and become our Senator in the February 25th Senatorial election.
We implore all eligible voters of the District to heed this stance of the Senatorial District Leaders and vote for Barr Emmanuel Enoidem, found to be the strongest of all the candidates from the Abak Federal Constituency.
Finally, we will vehemently reject and resist any attempt to cause disaffection, disunity, and political crisis in the Senatorial District by anybody or group of persons no matter how highly placed.
Thank You and God bless
Signed:
