Senator Godswill Akpabio has endorsed the candidacy of the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Nsima Ekere, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2019 Akwa Ibom State governorship election.
Akpabio, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, said Ekere possessed the experience, political understanding and commitment required to lead the party into the governorship contest.
In a statement announcing his position, the former Senate Minority Leader also appealed to the people of Akwa Ibom State to forgive him for supporting Governor Udom Emmanuel during the 2015 election.
Akpabio said his support for Emmanuel in 2015 was a decision he now considered a mistake, adding that he believed his backing of Ekere offered an opportunity to make amends.
According to him, “I made a mistake for not allowing Ekere to be Governor in 2015. I plead for forgiveness; it is only God who cannot make mistakes.”
Ekere was among the leading contenders for the PDP governorship ticket ahead of the 2015 election and led the G22, a group comprising 22 governorship aspirants within the party. Emmanuel eventually emerged as the PDP candidate and went on to win the election.
Following the outcome of the PDP primary, Ekere left the party and joined the APC, where he aligned with Umana Okon Umana in the opposition party’s bid to challenge the PDP in the state.
Before his appointment to head the NDDC, Ekere had served as Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Emergency Management Agency and was also associated with Ibom Power Company, the state-owned independent power generation company.
His appointment as Managing Director of the NDDC by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016 was welcomed by the APC leadership in Akwa Ibom State.
In a statement at the time, jointly signed by the then leader of the state chapter, Obong Umana Umana, and the state chairman, Dr. Amadu Attai, the party commended Buhari for the reconstitution of the NDDC board.
The APC described Ekere as a suitable choice for the leadership position, citing his experience, exposure and record of service.
The party also expressed confidence that he would discharge his responsibilities with dedication and a strong sense of duty.
With the 2019 governorship election drawing closer, Akpabio’s endorsement further strengthens Ekere’s position within the APC and adds a new dimension to the political contest in Akwa Ibom State.
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