By Bassey Nkponam
UYO
The Akwa Ibom governor has directed all members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State to return to their respective wards for membership revalidation.
Pastor Umo Eno, who stated this Friday, during his familiarisation visit to the party’s secretariat at Ekpo Obot Street, in Uyo, said a register will be sent to all the wards through the ward chairmen, adding that the exercise will commence on August 4, 2025 and will last for about a month to give room to all interested persons to register.
Eno said the membership registration was very essential to ascertain the actual members of the party, stressing that afterwards, the issue of camouflage and pretence would be laid to rest.
According to him, all members of the party, both new and aboriginal, irrespective of their status, should take part in the process which, he noted, will be followed by digital capturing by the national secretariat of the party.
He enjoined all members of the party to show commitment and unity of purpose, and desist from unnecessary internal bickering for the overall good of the State.
Eno, who made known plans of the federal government’s empowerment initiative on a one per ward basis, said the President Tinubu-led government was doing very well for the country, explaining, “There is something I saw and decided to stand with this President. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu means well for this country. Some of us know what he went through when he took over and today, two years after, things are stabilising.
“We need to support him. We believe that he is stabilising the economy. As a Governor, we can tell you that he is releasing money for the State. That’s why we are doing projects, not owing contractors and paying gratuities”, urging them to support the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and all other APC candidates for re-election in 2027.
He appreciated everyone for their support thus far, saying, “today, we have come as part of our familiarisation with the Party office. We started with the Party Structure. We met with the stakeholders. We are now at the Party Office to pay respect to the party because Party is supreme.
“We had to go step by step, precept upon precept. There is no need to rush any. So we are going to put everything that we need to put in place, and there is nothing to rush about.
“To all of you that have given us the support to have transited easily, I am here today to thank those who have believed in good governance, who have believed in the ARISE Agenda and all of the little progress we have been able to make in the last two years”.
The governor used the occasion to inaugurate a 10-man Committee for an APC Secretariat project with a mandate to search for land, raise funds, and deliver a befitting Secretariat for the party. Members of the project committee include, Sir Monday Ebong Uko, chairman; Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo, Obong Nsima Ekere, Senator Ita Enang, Mr Unyime Idem and Ambassador Assam Assam.
In his remarks, the chairman of the APC in the State, Obong Stephen Ntukekpo, appreciated the governor for his leadership disposition, describing it as a testimony of grace, compassion and inclusivity.
Ntukekpo thanked Eno for not only breaking boundaries, but building bridges which, according to him, has brought the people of the State together across party lines, and highlighted the symbolic representation of the party as a sign of unity, resilience, strength and hope which has been rekindled by the favour of his divine presence.
Other speakers, including the deputy governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi; speaker of the House Assembly, Elder Udeme Otong; dean, college of commissioners, Mkpisong Frank Archibong, State chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Dr Uwemedimo Udo, and dean, College of Honourary Special Advisers, Isantim Kenneth Okon, pledged their support for the governor, and commitment to follow his directive towards the success of the 2027 election and the overall development and progress of the State.
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