Former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, has emerged the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Akwa Ibom State following the party’s primaries held over the weekend.
The exercise, conducted by national officers of the party led by the chairman of the Primary Election Committee, Mr. Titus Ejoor, also produced candidates for three senatorial districts, 10 House of Representatives seats, and 36 House of Assembly constituencies.
Announcing the results at the Helema Event Centre, Uyo, on Sunday night, Ejoor said Akpanudoedehe secured a total of 66,099 votes to defeat his only opponent, Barr. Mfon Udeme, who polled 103 votes.
“Based on this result, may I officially declare Senator John Akpanudoedehe as winner of the ADC governorship primaries in Akwa Ibom State,” Ejoor declared.
In his acceptance speech, Akpanudoedehe, a former Uyo Local Government Council Chairman and ex-Interim National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), thanked party members for their support and declared readiness to challenge the administration of Governor Umo Eno.
He said the ADC was prepared to confront what he described as economic hardship and governance deficits in the state.
“We’re ready to confront hunger, unemployment and other malaise plaguing the administration of Governor Umo Eno, despite huge allocations from the centre,” he said.
He added, “I am an opposition person who wants to take power from you. You’ve turned our young men into old men with grey hairs. You don’t have a policy to move people out of poverty, that is why we want to change you.
“We’re coming to build Akwa Ibom people from your deliberate policy of poverty to affluence. We’re coming to hold you accountable. Opposition is not your enemy; we’re coming to put you on your toes. It is our constitutional responsibility to show you what you’ve not done right,” he added.
Akpanudoedehe also commended the election committee for what he described as a transparent and orderly process, pledging loyalty to the party and unity among candidates.
The chairman of the Primary Election Committee, Mr. Titus Ejoor, congratulated all successful aspirants and praised party members for conducting themselves peacefully during the exercise.
He said the orderly conduct of the primaries reflected the ADC’s internal cohesion and urged candidates to work together ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In the senatorial contests, Princess Patience Ibanga Akpabio emerged as the ADC candidate for Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District (Akwa Ibom North-West), while Sunday Umoren clinched the Uyo Senatorial District (Akwa Ibom North-East) ticket and Louis Paul Udoh emerged for Eket Senatorial District (Akwa Ibom South).
Princess Akpabio, who is linked by marriage to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, spoke on behalf of the senatorial candidates and said the ADC was positioned to challenge the ruling establishment in the state.
She declared, “The stage is set for us to wrest the baton from my son-in-law, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, of the ruling All Progressives Congress.”
She urged eligible voters to take advantage of the ongoing voter registration exercise of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stressing that voter participation would be decisive in 2027.
In the House of Representatives primaries, the ADC produced candidates across all federal constituencies in the state.
Winners include Jackson Emem Daniel (Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium), Hanson Paul (Ikot Abasi/Mkpat Enin/Eastern Obolo), John Gabriel (Oron/Mbo/Udung Uko/Okobo/Urue-Offong Oruko), Barr. Akaninyene Udofa (Oruk Anam/Ukanafun), Chris Sunday George (Eket/Onna/Esit Eket/Ibeno), Alfred Umoh (Ikono/Ini), Nnamonso David (Uyo/Uruan/Nsit Atai/Ibesikpo), Nsikak Umoeka (Itu/Ibiono-Ibom), Ofonime Johnson Inyang (Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika), and Isaac Asuquo (Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara).
The party also announced 26 State House of Assembly candidates who emerged unopposed across various constituencies, including Onna, Uruan, Ikono, Ikot Abasi/Eastern Obolo, Nsit Atai, Ukanafun, Abak, Essien Udim, Ikot Ekpene, Uyo, Ibiono-Ibom, Etinan, Mkpat Enin, Ika, Oruk Anam, Eket, Nsit Ubium, Nsit Ibom, Esit Eket, Ibeno, Etim Ekpo, Okobo, Urue-Offong Oruko, Oron/Udung Uko, Mbo, and Itu.
The outcomes signal an early mobilisation within the ADC ahead of the 2027 elections, as the party seeks to position itself as a competitive force against the ruling political structure in Akwa Ibom State.
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