Akpabio, Gov Eno realigns for 2027 re-election bid

The President of the 10th National Assembly, Senator Godswill Akpabio and the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno are gearing towards their reelection bid ahead of the 2027 general elections.

At a grand reception for the Senate President in Ikot Ekpene local government area of the state which was also attended by Gov. Eno, the people of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district declared Akpabio as the sole candidate for the 2027 senatorial race.

Speaking at the event, Akpabio said, “When you said in 2027 no one should contest, it means it’s only one candidate from the senatorial district and no other person.”

In the same vein, at the event, the people also hailed the governor, Pastor Umo Eno for his ability to bring unity and peace between his administration and the successive ones.

The governor urged the people of Akwa Ibom Northwest to also adopt him as the sole candidate for governorship election in 2027 having adopted Akpabio whom he described as his “political grandfather” as a sole candidate for the senate.

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The exercise, however, was more like a barter system of politics where Akpabio of the All Progressives Congress, APC, will not have any opponent to contend with in 2027, while Gov Umo Eno, the leader of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state will not have a contender from the main opposition party (APC) come 2027.

Eno said, “this honour shows that Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district will support Umo Eno for another eight years, after that I will hand it over to them.

“I am the grandson of Senator Akpabio and I know I will enjoy uncommon benefits from the uncommon grandfather.”

Akpabio in a reaction promised to work with Gov Eno to realise his aspirations, even as he stressed that he would not force him to cross carpet to APC.

He said, “I’m not telling you to join our party but continue to work with God and we will support you to succeed. You want to see federal projects in the state, you’ll see more than federal projects.

“The National Assembly will work with you for you to succeed as governor, irrespective of political party lines. You have received the Federal Government with smiles, we will receive you in Abuja with benefits of democracy for your people.”

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Meanwhile, it is not yet uhuru for Akpabio to assume the sole candidacy of Akwa Ibom Northwest for the 2027 Senatorial elections as the ruling PDP has come out to say it would field a candidate for the senatorial race.

The PDP said it was working hard to bring out a competent candidate for the district who would give the present representative a bleeding nose at the polls.

Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Akwa Ibom State chapter, Mr Borono Bassey, speaking with our correspondent in Uyo, said people should not mistake the event at the Ikot Ekpene stadium to mean the position of the PDP.

“We, as a party, are working hard, re-strategizing and having statewide ward meetings at all times to win the elections. We should know that the governor is the governor of Akwa Ibom State and what he is doing now is governance and not politicking.