2023 Elections: Senator Akpan wants level playing field for all aspirants in primaries

The leader of Akwa Ibom Caucus at the National Assembly and Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District, on Monday formally declared his intention to occupy the Hilltop Mansion, the official residence of the governor of Akwa Ibom state in 2023.

He made the declaration at the Peoples Democratic Party Headoffice in Atan Offot during a consultative visit to the party exco led by Hon. Aniekan Akpan in Uyo.

Akpan, who is the Senate Committee Chairman, Petroleum (Upstream) was followed by a huge crowd of supporters, well-wishers, and party faithful. He seized the moment to formally inform the party of his readiness to contest the office of governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2023.

Addressing an enlarged Exco of the party, he urged the leaders of the party to as a way of rewarding loyalty, ensure a level-playing field for all the aspirants in the contest.

The visible governorship aspirant assured the party that if the party will remain neutral in coordinating the primaries, he will win a landslide to the glory of God and the state PDP. He thanked the party chairman, Hon. Aniekan Akpan, for stabilizing the party by his recent comments and actions.

He said there was a time when there was growing concern in the State over the objectivity of the party but that to the glory of God, the leadership of the party reversed the abnormally.

He debunked claims in some sections of the media(not LENS products) that he had a problem with Governor Udom Emmanuel, insisting that, his love for the governor remains intact.

He recalled that the love he always had for Governor Emmanuel made him to step down in 2014, to pave way for the peaceful emergence of the sitting governor.

The same love, he said, was also repeated in 2019, when he remained the only senator standing by the governor for a second term after the others decamped to APC.

Enumerating his life-touching impacts, the senator mentioned some Akwa Ibom citizens he personally intervened with when they were victimized in their places of work.

Additionally, he said he has sponsored about 426 students on scholarships, with monthly stipends. According to him, through his effort, about 21 of those students graduated with first-class honours.

Responding, the state Chairman, Aniekan Akpan, commended Senator Akpan for effective representation in the senate, describing him as “one of the finest”.

Announcing that the PDP in Akwa Ibom is one united family, the chairman said any political party is for service and promised there will be a level-playing field for all aspirants.

To him, a level-playing field involves a proper organization of voting arrangements without interference, submitting that only one person will eventually become the winner.

Aniekan Akpan then advised that as Akpan’s campaign starts officially, it should be done with love and pleasantries.

He also advised OBA to focus on his grace, involve God in his campaign and discuss issues. For the umpteenth time, the chairman announced that the party is one and open for all.