President Mohammadu Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is set to visit Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital tomorrow, Monday 4 March, 2019. This is coming a week after the presidential polls that pronounced him victorious in a much debated and criticised process, described as a step backward from the electoral standard set by the 2015 elections, Igbere Tv reports.
The outcome of the election has been the subject of numerous interrogations by citizens and international observers who have pointed out a yawning gab between the actual figures from the polls and the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
A source within the Presidency camp has revealed to Igbere Tv the reason for the proposed visit of the President to the oil- rich, South-South state. The source indicates that the President’s visit is aimed at convincing the crisis torn, disappointed and defection bound members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against defecting to the ruling party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
It is a fact that Akwa Ibom state has been a core PDP state since the birth of the fourth republic in 1999 and has since then produced all political office holders in the state at all levels. In August 8 last year, a leading member of the Party in the state and former Senate minority leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio defected to the APC.
On the heels of his defection, the Senator made many promises including delivering victory in the state to President Buhari within three hours in the Presidential elections. On the 23 of February, the reality that Akwa Ibom is indeed still PDP became manifest even to the politically blind; Buhari did not just lose in Akwa Ibom, Senator Akpabio also lost his re-election bid to the Senate.
Having now recognised their place, they is a serious hegemony in the Party, with names like Umana Umana, Senator Udoedehe and even the APC Gubernatorial Candidate in the state, Mr Nsima Ekere wandering in search for new levels of significance and assurances of victory. This circumstance has torn the party apart, with youths Waring against the elders.
Our source reveal that the party’s stakeholders have invited PMB to the state in the hopes that his presence and authority can bind again the scattered broom of the APC.
Another source from Akwa Ibom state also mentioned that the President’s visit is not unconnected with the long duel that the APC have been engaged in with the state INEC REC, Mr Mike Igini. It is no news that the APC in Akwa Ibom state has been on a stand alone battle against Mr Igini whom they have accused of many things and have been vocal in their displeasure over his role as REC in the state. Alarmingly however, all the blames have been from APC as all other parties in the state have variously and independently passed a vote of confidence in Mr Igini. The source reveal that the planned visit by the President is the last move on APC’s chessboard upon the failure of all previous efforts to woo Mr Igini to bed with them. The President is expected to align with the APC in Akwa Ibom state in calling for the redeployment of Igini before the March 9 elections. We are yet unaware of the new allegation that will be used against him.
President Muhammadu Buhari commenced his presidential campaign rally in Akwa Ibom state for this 2019 general elections yet the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held their victory untouched. It may most likely follow that this proposed visit shall be another near useless adventure as the PDP in the state appear undaunted in their resolve to ensure the victory of all their Candidates at the upcoming polls on March 9, Igbere Tv reports.
