An aide to Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has boasted that the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the state will use money from the state treasury to make the party win the local elections on Saturday.
Godwin Ntukudeh, Political Advisor to the Governor, said this in Ikono Local Government Area at the PDP campaign rally on October 3.
Residents of Akwa Ibom's 36 local government areas will vote on Saturday to elect chairmen and councilors of their local councils.
“I heard a man said he would invest money in these elections,” Ntukudeh said while addressing the rally, apparently referring to Emmanuel Ukpong-udo, a federal lawmaker representing the Ikono-Ini federal constituency.
His comment was captured in a video posted on Facebook.
“One man’s money versus the state government’s treasury,” Ntukudeh added.
“Who is that person who wants to deceive you? Tell him that the Akwa Ibom State Government wants to reclaim Ikono Local Government Area. “The Akwa Ibom State Government is here to reclaim Ikono Local Government Area for fundamental development, progress, unity and blessings.”
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Ukpong-udo, a second-term legislator and member of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), is said to enjoy a large following in Ikono and Ini Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom. Defeated PDP candidate Glory Edet in the 2023 general election.
The lawmaker was first elected under the PDP platform, but split from the PDP when it appeared the party was unwilling to re-nominate him for a second term.
'Against a man'
Ntukudeh said the PDP would do everything possible to win the local elections in Ikono.
“Anything other than that, no matter what happens, we as children of Ibibio will rise to defend Ikono against one man. Against a man! That's all I can tell you.
“We, the sons of Ibibio and the daughters of Ibibio, with these kinds of powerful men (came to the front of the podium, Uwem Okoko, an engineer and managing director of a major indigenous construction company in Akwa Ibom, Hensek Integrated Services Ltd). , we are here to rescue Ikono for its fundamental blessing and we will regain the lost glory.
“The governor of Akwa Ibom State is a son of Ibibio; We will lower our legs for you instead of you to disgrace you,” the governor’s aide said as a crowd of PDP members and supporters cheered him on.
Ntukudeh said Ikono remains the “pain” of the Ibibio nation when it comes to politics.
“Forget Abuja; Abuja is too far away,” he said, apparently sending a message to Ukpong-udo, the YPP federal lawmaker. “We will provide security on land, air and water.”
Ukpong-udo reacts
Federal lawmaker Ukpong-udo issued a statement on Friday denouncing Ntukudeh's comments as “inflammatory and careless.”
He said Mr Ntukudeh's comments, apart from being “unbecoming” of his status as political advisor to the governor, also “dangerously undermined” the person and the Governor's Office.
“This is a direct attack on the integrity of the Governor, who has consistently maintained his position of ensuring free, fair and credible elections in our state,” he said.
“In his reckless outburst, Ntukudeh claimed that the state government, not the PDP, 'is coming to take back Ikono local government', and made incriminating insinuations about the use of the state security apparatus – 'air, land and sea'. —to achieve their political objectives.
“Furthermore, he brazenly declared that the 'state government treasury' would be deployed for elections, suggesting that the resources of the people of this state would be used to serve partisan interests.”
The lawmaker said Ikono is a volatile area and therefore requires politicians to behave with utmost maturity and responsibility. He called on security agencies to take note of Ntukudeh's comments and hold him accountable if violence breaks out during the elections.
“If you really believe you have the support of the people, go to the polls in peace and let the people choose. “I challenge Mr Ntukudeh and others like him who rely on political sentiment and intimidation to promote free, fair and transparent elections where the will of the people can prevail in the next election,” he said.
PPJ in Akwa Ibom
The YPP was relatively unknown in Akwa Ibom until a former senator, Bassey Albert, Ukpong-udo and others joined the PDP in 2023. In addition to Ukpong-udo's victory, the YPP won the House of Assembly elections in Ikono.
Albert, who later became the Akwa Ibom YPP gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 general election, had defected from the party to the All Progressives Congress. Asuquo Nana Udo, the lawmaker representing Ikono State constituency in the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, had returned to the PDP.
Except for Mr Ukpong-udo, there are no notable politicians in the YPP in Akwa Ibom anymore.