Controversy dey trail the dramatic victory of All Progressives Congress (APC) for the local government election wey happen for Essien Udim Local Government Area, which be the home local council of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The local government election wey hold across the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom on Saturday, October 5, 2024, still dey generate plenty talk and interest. The main thing wey people dey talk about be the unexpected victory of APC in Essien Udim, which stun members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
A viral video wey trend on social media show one Professor Atting, who claim say he be the Returning Officer for Essien Udim LGA, announce say PDP candidate, Enobong Patrick Friday, win the election with 55,612 votes, while APC candidate, Mr. Ntiedo Usoro Effiong, get only 686 votes. But just as PDP dey celebrate their victory, another result come out say APC win the election.
The Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission, Mr. AniediAbasi Ikoiwak, quickly address the media in Uyo, saying that the actual Returning Officer for the local council be Prof Uduak Okon of the Department of Medical Sciences, University of Uyo. Ikoiwak say APC candidate poll 51,751 votes, while PDP candidate get 22,799 votes.
Ikoiwak explain say the man who claim to be the Returning Officer in the video no be on the list of appointed Returning Officers, and that the winning margin by the PDP candidate in the video too much to be true. He say the PDP people hurry go do the video with drivers and unidentified persons as their crowd to mislead the public.
Many people believe say the PDP victory was traded off to save Akpabio from embarrassment of losing in his own local government. Political observers in Akwa Ibom State believe that by conceding victory to APC in Akpabio’s domain, Governor Eno deserve respect and cooperation from Akpabio.
A political analyst, Etim Etim, say Akpabio should reach out to the governor and build a “political alliance” to cement the cordial relationship between the two leaders and transcend beyond the 2027 elections.
