𝐆𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐰𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐄𝐭𝐢𝐦 𝐄𝐤𝐩𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐏𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐄𝐤𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐩𝐞 𝐄𝐤𝐩𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲

BY ANAMAM HILLARY

The Executive Chairman of Etim Ekpo Local Government Area, Gideon Uwa, has reaffirmed his commitment to the growth and stability of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the area, declaring that the party is united and ready to face the future with renewed strength.

Speaking at the APC Grand Reception Rally held today at the Council Hall, Utu Etim Ekpo, Uwa who led party stakeholders, officers, and supporters to the event flanked by his, Mrs. Unyime Gideon, described the rally as a new chapter for the APC in the local government and pledged his administration’s commitment to pursuing people-oriented policies in line with the ARISE Agenda.

According to him, “we came on board on the 7th of October, 2024 and immediately swung into action. Today, it might interest you to see what is happening in Etim Ekpo Local Government Secretariat. With the support of the legislature and other members of my government, we achieved all these within 100 days, and every son and daughter of Etim Ekpo can say that we have done well so far.”

Highlighting the presence of village youth presidents from all 76 gazetted villages, Uwa said their attendance was a sign that “Etim Ekpo is now under the leadership of APC.” He emphasized his loyalty to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, PhD, noting that his administration had adopted the ARISE Agenda locally.

“Today, together with the Vice Chairman of Council, all Councillors, Supervisors, Special Advisers, and the entire Etim Ekpo people, we have unanimously endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio, and Governor Umo Eno, PhD, for re-election in 2027,” he declared.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the APC Chapter Chairman, Pastor Edidiong Idio, described the rally as a strategic gathering of “those who make things happen in the politics of Etim Ekpo when it comes to winning,” assuring members of the chapter’s commitment to fairness and inclusion.

𝐀𝐏𝐂 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐎𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐧 𝐎𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐝𝐨 𝐔𝐤𝐨, 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲, 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 “𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩.”

Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ekon, and Secretary, Hon. Ekpuk Eshiet, thanked stakeholders and supporters for making the rally a historic and unifying moment for the APC in Etim Ekpo.

Similarly, the Member representing Etim Ekpo/Ika State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mfon Idung, urged steadfastness and discipline among members, pledging to advance his constituency’s interests and keep the APC in Etim Ekpo and Ika politically formidable ahead of 2027.

𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐈𝐤𝐨𝐭 𝐄𝐤𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐇𝐨𝐧. 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐡 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐔𝐦𝐨 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐲 𝐄𝐧𝐨, 𝐏𝐡𝐃, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐧.

Representing the APC State Chairman, Obong Stephen Ntokekpo, the State Deputy Chairman, Dr. David Umoessien, commended the rally’s scale and organization, likening it to a Senatorial District event. On behalf of the State Chairman, he welcomed new stakeholders into “the largest party in Africa”, assuring them of inclusion and opportunities.

Special Guest of Honour, Honourable Minister of State (Gas), Rt. Hon. (Obongemem) Ekperikpe Ekpo, hailed the peaceful and colourful outing as proof of APC’s strength in Etim Ekpo. “My presence here is a signature that this gathering is recognized and respected by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said, extending greetings from President Tinubu, Senate President Akpabio, and Governor Umo Eno.

He clarified that the rally was a celebration of returning members who had already registered, commending them for identifying with the Governor ahead of the 2027 elections. He lauded the stakeholders, State Chairman, and party officers for their warm reception, warning that anyone undermining party structures was working against APC’s interest. He urged peace in line with the ‘Akwa Ibom United’ vision and encouraged constituents to take advantage of President Tinubu’s empowerment programme to create wealth from the ward level.

Goodwill messages came from former Council Chairman, Rt. Hon. Uduot Jack, PhD; Dean of the College of Aides to the Governor, Hon. Senyom Ekeke; SA to the Governor on New Media, AmanamHillary Umo-Udofia, PhD; the Chair of Chair & representative of Hon. Clement Jimbo (MHR), Edidiong Demas, who all drummed support for President Tinubu, Senate President Akpabio, and Governor Umo Eno ahead of 2027.