Controversy trails dramatic APC victory in Akpabio’s LG

PATRICK ODEY writes on the intrigues that played out during the recently concluded local government elections in Akwa Ibọn State and the controversies that have continued to trail the victory of All Progressives Congress in Senate President God’swill Akpabio’s Essien Udim Local Government Area, underscoring the underlying political alliance between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the APC

The local government election held throughout the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom on Saturday October 5, 2024 is still generating interests and lively discussions.

The major attraction was the unexpected victory of the All Progressives Congress in Essien Udim Local Government Area, Senate President  Senator Godswill Akpabio’s home local council, a result that has stunned members of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.

A viral video obtained by this writer shortly after the announcement of the results indicated that the PDP won all of the 31 local government areas in the state.
In the video, which trended on the social media, one Professor Atting, said to be the Returning Officer for Essien Udim LGA, announced that the PDP candidate, Enobong Patrick Friday,  won the election with 55,612 vites as against the APC candidate, Mr. Ntiedo Usoro Effiong, who polled 686 votes.

But just as the PDP was celebrating its victory in Essien Udim, another result indicated that it was the APC that won in the Local Government Area, a development which threw the entire state into a moment of anxiety.

In a quick response to the controversy, the Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission, Mr AniediAbasi Ikoiwak, quickly addressed the media in Uyo, stating that contrary to the name on the video given as Prof Atting, the actual Returning Officer  for the local council in the election was Prof Uduak Okon of the Department of Medical Sciences, University of Uyo.
He added that the APC candidate polled a total of 51,751 votes while  the PDP candidate trailed behind with 22,799 votes

Ikoiwak said, “The man who claimed to be the Returning Officer in Essien Udim was not on the list of appointed Returning Officers for the exercise, the winning margin by the PDP candidate on the video was too overwhelming to have denied the winner and his supporters did not revolt.

“It was when they realised that what the polling officer did in Essien Udim was discovered by AKISIEC, that they hurriedly went to somewhere in Ewet Housing Estate to do the video, using drivers and unidentified persons as their crowd to present what they presented to mislead the public.

“By the time they brought their result, they were told that Essien Udim’s result was already filed and I had insisted that the results must be recorded on form 08D and that is what was accepted from all the LGAs.”

But watchers of political events in the state believed that the PDP victory was traded off to placate the Senate President, Akpabio, and save him from the embarrassment of having to lose in his own local government, Essien Udim.

In what appears to have stunned the PDP faithful in the state, the party candidate in the election in Essien Udim local council, Enobong Friday, in a congratulatory message to his APC opponent, a copy of which was obtained by The PUNCH correspondent in Uyo, stated, “Election is now over and it is time for governance. God in his wisdom has placed on your shoulders at this point in our history, the mantle of leadership and the enormous task of leading Essien Udim local council to greatness

“As you assume office, I pledged my total support and solidarity to your administration as your success is our success as a people. What matters in the end is the overall interest of Essien Udim Local Government Area – our motherland.”
Observers believe that beyond these denials and congratulations, Governor Eno is undeniably playing good politics. There are indications that the governor and the Senate President are building a political alliance that may influence the politics of 2027 in the state. Some persons are speculating that the governor may decamp to the APC, given his cordial relationship with Senator Akpabio, but PDP stalwarts in the state are quick to deny such possibility.

A PDP chieftain from Uruan Local Government Area, Chief Robert Nyong, said, “Governor Umo Eno is a man of peace and harmony, who has tremendous respect for other leaders in the state. That does not mean that he has any plans to defect from the PDP.”

Ever since Governor Eno took over the mantle of  leadership of the state in  2023, he has consistently chosen the path of peace, rather than confrontation in his dealings with Senator Akpabio, who has had a strained relationships with almost all the political leaders in the state, including his successor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, and predecessor, Obong Victor Attah.

Political observers in Akwa Ibom State believed that by conceding victory to the APC in Akpabio’s domain and instigating the amendment of the controversial traditional council law, which Akpabio was deeply opposed to, Governor Eno deserves an equal measure of respect and cooperation from Akpabio.

Many PDP members and political analysts are wondering what Akpabio would bring to Eno in return for the governor’s good gestures.

A political analyst, Etim Etim, in an article he released shortly after the council election results were published, stated that Akpabio should reach out to the governor and build a “political alliance.”

Such alliance, he argued, would cement the existing cordial relationship between the two leaders and
transcend beyond the 2027 elections.
He said, “We all know that all over the country, council elections are never free and fair, and most often than not, elections results are written in the Government House. In fact, two months ago, I have warned APC members across the state not to waste their energy, money and time to contest the council elections, because the PDP would, naturally sweep the polls.

“By allowing the APC to win in Akpabio’s backyard, Governor Eno has saved the Senate President a huge political embarrassment, cemented the cordial relationship between the two leaders and formally signaled the nature of the game that would be played in 2027.

Etim, who claimed he had an inkling of the alliance, commended the governor for being a man of “honour and for extending uncommon respect and political civility to our Senate President. Never before has such an inter-party cordiality and alliance played out in Akwa Ibom State.”

He noted that pundits and indeed the entire people of Akwa Ibom State will now be watching out to see how the Senate President would reciprocate the gestures, adding that Akpabio “must assist the governor to bring ‘’democracy dividends’’ from Abuja to our people.

He added, “He should also show compromise, large heart and selflessness and take a cue from the governor and be magnanimous to his ‘enemies.’

Though the shape the alliance would take is still in the realms of conjectures, Senator Akpabio stunned his party men who are still licking the wounds of their loses during the just concluded local council polls, by congratulating Eno, during Senate plenary in a discussion on local government brought forward by Senator Abba Moro.
The Senate President, who acknowledged that election were never free and fair, congratulated

the state governor for recognizing that it would be impossible for the Senate President to lose in his local government area, Essien Udim.

Akpabio said, “But let me point out that elections were not perfect. My colleagues are appreciating the state governor for remaining steadfast, recognizing that it would be impossible for the Senate President to loss in his own local government.”

In the emerging alliance Etim advised “those APC members from Uyo senatorial district who are positioning themselves to challenge Eno in 2027 to have a rethink; and all PDP members in Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial district who are warming up to challenge Akpabio in 2027 should think again,” adding that the “alliance” between Akpabio and Eno will trump all such ambitions, if all goes according to plans.

Speaking on the possibility of an alliance, an APC chieftain from Ibesikpo-Asutan Local Government Area of the state, Elder Aniefiok Isatt, noted that the alliance would be a good idea for the state.

He however warned Governor Eno to be wary of Akpabio, who he noted has had a long history of betraying his close allies.

He cited personalities like former Managing Director of the NDDC and governorship candidate, Mr Nsima Ekere, former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Don Etiebet, and Senator John Udoedehe, who he alleged have been betrayed by Akpabio.
He said, “The alliance will be a good idea, but Governor Eno should be careful, because Akpabio has a long history of betrayals and treating others disrespectfully. People like Umana Umana, Nsima Ekere, Atuekong Don Etiebet and Senator John Udoedehe do not have good stories to tell from their past relationships with Akpabio.”

The APC stalwart noted that currently, Akpabio is “cajoling Senator Bassey Albert, who decamped from the PDP to YPP before the 2023 elections and to the APC recently, to be prepared to run for governor in 2027, adding that he has promised to rescue OBA from his alleged criminal conviction.

He added, “Akpabio is also encouraging Senator Ita Enang to be prepared to contest in 2027. He has asked Enang to initiate reconciliation within the APC, a task Enang is finding difficulty to accomplish.”

A former military administrator of Rivers and Ogun states and a stalwart of the APC in the state, Group Captain Sam Ewang (retd.) who did not want to comment on the alliance described the APC as a dead party.

He said, “I don’t want to say much on that, but I want to assure everyone that the election went as it has to be, it has been very clear from the beginning that the APC has no ground, it has been destroyed and unfortunately, it is my party.”

The  state PDP chairman,  Elder Aniekan Akpan, also declined to comment on the alliance, feigning ignorance of it.

He told The PUNCH, “I’m the PDP chairman, I didn’t observe any alliance and I can’t talk about what I don’t know. What I know is that the PDP went into this election prepared. I went round the 31 local government areas of the state and we won massively.”
How this new-found alliance would okay out ahead of the 2027 general election remains to be seen, as time, the harbinger of events would however tell.

Meanwhile, The PUNCH gathered that the chairmanship candidate of the PDP in the local government and his vice chairmanship candidate have been promised political appointments and contract award to placate them and ensure that they are adequately taken care of.