Fresh Election: Udom Starts Campaign in Churches, Donates N10 Million to Uma Ukpai

Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State (middle), General-Overseer, Goodnews Community Int’l, Bishop Elijah Mboho (right) and Secretary to the State Government, Sir Etekamba Umoren at Goodnews Community Int’l, Abak where the Governor worshipped

By Nse Peter

The Peoples Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom State may have started subtle campaign in preparation for possible fresh governorship election, even as the state election petition tribunal is far from concluding its sitting in Abuja.

Udom Emmanuel whose controversial election as Akwa Ibom governor is being challenged by the All Progressives Congress candidate, Umana Okon Umana, has been visiting churches across the state to solicit for prayers, and votes in case the tribunal yields to Umana’s petition and cancel the April 11, 2015 governorship election, Think Akwa Ibom! can authoritatively report.

The latest development is coming few weeks after Mr. Emmanuel’s predecessor and godfather, Godswill Akpabio advised the governor and PDP in Akwa Ibom to prepare for fresh election as the tribunal appears likely to rule against them.

A journalist in Uyo who works as Government House correspondent for a local newspaper in Akwa Ibom told Think Akwa Ibom! that Emmanuel has drawn up time table for his planned visit to churches in the state, and has so far visited about seven of them, including Apostolic Church, Qua Iboe, Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association, and Goodnews Community.

The journalist who did not want his name mention in this report for fear of being barred from covering the Government House for his newspaper said that one of the governor’s strategies is to first visit churches owned by pastors who are considered as God’s Generals in Akwa Ibom State.

“When you talk of God’s Generals in this state, you can’t fail to mention names like Rev. (Dr.) Uma Ukpai and Arch. Bishop Elijah Mboho…. He (Emmanuel) has visited these two and other great men of God in Akwa Ibom State. Rev. Uma Ukpai in particular is a factor in the affairs of this state, whether it is spiritual, politics or whatever,” the journalist said, while revealing that the governor donated N10 million to Uma Ukpai School of Business and Theology when he visited the renowned clergy.

Think Akwa Ibom! has been able to confirm from four more sources within the Government House, Uyo, including an aide to the governor, that Emmanuel has indeed been visiting and campaigning in churches across the state on Sundays.

During his visit to Uma Ukpai, the governor reportedly said that he was working to ensure that steady water and electricity supply would be made available for the state within his first 100 days in office. He also made similar promise while at Mboho’s Goodnews Community.

“Of course, I can’t deny that the governor has been visiting different churches in the state since he was overwhelmingly elected by Akwa Ibom people. But it’s absolute rubbish to tie it to politics. He (Emmanuel) is a member and also an elder of Qua Iboe Church, but as the people’s governor he is duty-bound to visit other churches to see how the good people of Akwa Ibom are faring and to also feel their pulse,” Governor Emmanuel’s aide told Think Akwa Ibom!

When reminded how the governor while in each of the churches he visited would take time to reel out what his administration has achieved so far and what its intends to do in future, and that it usually look more like a campaign visit, the governor’s aide retorted “I guess you’ve been talking too much with these boys in APC”.

He said, “PDP is not afraid of election. We will win them again and again if the elections were to be conducted today.”