A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom State and former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Don Etiebet, has declared that the party has come to stay and is positioned on a strong footing to dominate politics for decades.
According to him, the growing unity within the party in the state and Governor Umo Eno’s performance would guarantee the party’s electoral successes for more than 24 years.
Speaking while addressing a gathering of political leaders, party faithful, and stakeholders during the grand homecoming rally of the APC held at the Oruk Anam Local Government Area on Thursday, Etiebet said the PDP was now defunct, adding that the APC had become the dominant political force in the state.
He said, “The governor’s performance and the growing unity within the APC in Akwa Ibom State have placed the party on a strong footing to dominate Akwa Ibom politics for decades to come.
APC is here to stay, PDP is now ‘defunct’ in the state. APC will maintain control for 24 years plus, in the first instance.”
The former minister, who threw his weight behind Governor Umo Eno’s second-term bid, said that after his second tenure, Eno would choose a successor with the support of the party.
Umo Eno is assured of his second term of four years. After that, he will choose his successor with our support, and then his successor will choose the next successor, because APC is here to stay,” he said.
The elder statesman also used the occasion to rally party members to deliver not less than 90 per cent of Oruk Anam votes to the APC in future elections, urging them to intensify voter registration efforts and ensure that every eligible resident obtains a Permanent Voter Card.
Speaking further, the former minister disclosed that Eno had set up and funded a party executive structure comprising more than 9,500 personnel to drive grassroots mobilisation.
As part of political sensitisation, Etiebet urged the local government chairman to legally brand completed road projects with APC insignia and the governor’s identity.
“In Oruk Anam today, every trader, every cyclist walks and rides on roads constructed by the Umo Eno-led APC government. Party faithful and electorates must be made to remember this reality while going to the polling booth,” he noted.
According to him, such branding would reinforce the party’s presence and strengthen political consciousness across rural communities.
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