Barely 24 hours to tomorrow’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in Nigeria, ACCORD in Akwa Ibom State has unanimously endorsed and adopted candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu for president of Nigeria and Chief Godswill Akpabio as Senator, Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.
According to Chairman of the party in the State, Rt. Hon. (Engr.) Martins Inyang Ansa, members of ACCORD are over 962,000 in Akwa Ibom.
He broke the news to a cross section Journalists in the State on Friday after a meeting with critical stakeholders of ACCORD in the Akwa Ibom; made up of, candidates of the party, Chapter Chairmen and Secretaries as well as other party faithful at an event held at their Governorship Campaign Office in Uyo, the State capital.
Flanked by his Governorship candidate; Engr. Emem Coffie, wife; Mrs Mercy Emem Coffie, Director General of their Governorship organisation, Mr Aniekan Johnson, State Deputy Chairman, Eric Etukakpan, State Secretary; Imeobong Udeng and other exco members of ACCORD, Engr Ansa stated that the choice and decision of the party to pitch its tent and support the presidential ambition of Bola Tinubu and that of Senator Akpabio were hinged on the candidates’ inspiring pedigree, topnotch achievements while in offices, capacity and ability to unite the Country and attract dividends of democracy to the oil rich State.
“The leadership of ACCORD in Akwa Ibom can proudly say that today marks a watershed in our party’s history as we unanimously endorse the most competent and experienced presidential candidate for the forthcoming presidential elections, in the person of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and of course, the Uncommon transformer, Uncommon Governor of Akwa Ibom since creation, Uncommon Senator and Minister, Chief (Dr) Godswill Obot Akpabio CON, as our candidate for Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district,” the State’s party helmsman dropped the news amidst cheers and reverberating applause from their members.
However, the party explained that their position on the two offices does not affect their decision on Governorship and other candidates of ACCORD in the State.
“Gentlemen of the press, please take note that to our party members remain our party members, we do not cease to exist, not at all. Our decision to give over 962,000 votes to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next President of this country and Chief Godswill Akpabio as the next Senator for Ikot Ekpene senatorial district does not affect other elective offices in our party because Engr Emem Coffie will still emerge Governor of Akwa Ibom on the platform of ACCORD on March 11 polls. Take note also that other National and State Assembly candidates of our party will also emerge winners because the time has come to end hunger in this State and create Millionaires in every home and it is only ACCORD that has the solution to the problems of our people,” Ansa stated.
On his part, the Governorship candidate of ACCORD, Engr Emem Coffie observed that the party is of the firm view that the Tinubu/Shetimma ticket is the best for Nigeria presently, while Senator Godswill Akpabio, with his experience as a former Senate Minority Leader, will at the 10th National Assembly, work assiduously to redefine the destiny of his senatorial district and beyond.
While revealing that many political parties in the State and groups have so far formed alliance with ACCORD to enable it win on March 11 poll, Engr. Coffie, a Structural Civil Engineer, noted that his party was proud to identify with the progressive movement that will deepen and strengthen the nation’s frail democracy, breathe fresh air into governance and restore the dignity of fellow compatriots who have suffered untold hardship especially in Akwa Ibom in recent years.
His words: “Gentlemen of the press, our Country needs and deserves servant leaders, a listening government that has the capacity to transform the nation and the people’s standard of living; a government that will give priority to the security, economy and welfare of the people and after meeting with the relevant stakeholders of our party and analyzing the capacity of all Presidential candidates, we unanimously agreed to settle for Asiwaju and Chief Akpabio.
“We have adopted them for the good of Akwa Ibom State. We know that, what is done for the Israelites, the Israelites will also do same the Gentiles,” he quipped.
Other bigwigs of the party who spoke at the event, including the Director General of ACCORD’s Governorship Campaign, Mr. Aniekan Johnson, assured of their readiness to give no fewer than 962,000 votes tomorrow for the two National leaders; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Senator Godswill Akpabio.
