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Akwa Ibom 2019: Ekere planned NDDC resignation unsettles Emmanuel

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7 years ago

February 6, 2018

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Nisma Ekere, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), is set to resign his appointment with the Commission to return home for the political battle with Governor Udom Emmanuel in the 2019 governorship election in Akwa Ibom State.

The home coming of Ekere and his spreading popularity across the state have been generating great concerns for Governor Emmanuel and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom.

Ekere is going into the governorship battle with Emmanuel on the political machine of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the party’s federal might, including the support and sponsorship of former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi. The NDDC MD also has Ita Enang, Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters to President Muhammadu Buhari, behind him.

Ekere was Deputy Governor in Akwa Ibom under former Governor Godswill Akpabio. He resigned to prepare for the contest to succeed Akpabio but was frustrated in the process which brought Governor Emmanuel to the Government House.

Ekere and Emmanuel are not just starting the battle for Akwa Ibom State. They have much earlier engaged in Cold War since Ekere became the MD of NDDC.

Ekere had gone down the political ladder after he resigned as deputy governor and also lsot the governorship ticket. Many thought he was finished until Amaechi revived him with the NDDC appointment. Since the appointment, Ekere has rebuilt his political structure and repositioned his political stature in Akwa Ibom State in competition with Emmanuel in projects execution across the state.

Ekere influenced several NDDC projects into Akwa Ibom State to undo Governor Emmanuel. This was a significant source of conflict between the governor and the NDDC boss.

Both Emmanuel and Ekere are from Eket Senatorial District, though, Emmanuel is from Onna Local Government Area, while Ekere is from Ikot Abasi Local Government Area.

A source disclosed that “Governor Emmanuel, PDP and top government functionaries in the state see Ekere’s position in the NDDC as a threat to the PDP in 2019. Emmanuel wants to return to office in 2019. But the fear of Ekere is generating palpable tension in the PDP. The party and top political office holders will in any comfortable forum try to run down or rubbish the activities of the NDDC, under Ekere’s leadership for political purpose.”