Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has dedicated his victory at the election petition tribunal to the people of the state, assuring that he will not relent in sustaining the tempo of impactful leadership which he has characterized his administration in his four months in the saddle. Governor Emmanuel spoke Wednesday night at the Akwa Ibom House in Abuja, while celebrating with thousands of indigenes who thronged the federal capital territory to felicitate with him.
The Governor maintained that since his emergence was a Divine Mandate from God, through the votes freely given by the people, it was therefore not surprising that the tribunal upheld his election.
Accompanied by his wife, Martha, the state Party Chairman Paul Ekpo and members of the State executive council, Mr Udom lauded that the judicial confirmation of his election, adding that even if the tribunal had called for re-run in the entire local government areas, he would have won all over again convincingly.
He said his administration is focused on keeping to his campaign promises of job generation and wealth creation through industrialization, agriculture revolution and sustainable infrastructural revolution.
Also addressing the people, former Governor and senate Minority Leader Chief Godswill Akpabio who led the jubilant women through some songs of triumph, told them that it would have been difficult to upturn the mandate freely given overwhelmingly to Governor Emmanuel by the people of the state.
He said the judgement which gives Governor Udom Emmanuel an additional 13 local government areas bonus ahead of a re-run in 18 well controlled PDP local government areas, was only a confirmation that APC had no chance to lay claim to the coveted seat of governance in the State.
Akpabio however boasted that even if elections were conducted in all the local government areas hundred times, Udom Emmanuel would emerge the winner 100 times.
“However as a lawyer, I stand by the decision of my party to appeal against the ruling of the tribunal,” and thanked the people for their unwavering support to the party.
In its ruling, the Justice Sadiq Umar chaired tribunal ordered a re-run election in 18 out of 31 local government areas of the state, upholding election held in 13 LGAs.
The affected local government areas are, Etinan, Nsit Ubium, Ibiono, Uyo, Uruan, Ibesikpo, Nsit Atai, Eket, Onna, Ibeno, Oron, Udung Uko, Oruk Anam, EtimEkpo, Ikono, Ini, Nsit Ibom and Ikot Abasi.
The Petitioner Mr. Umana Umana accompanied by Chief Don Etiebet told journalist that he had will appeal against the judgement, saying he wanted the tribunal to have nullified the entire election.
Most analysts who spoke after the ruling said it was practically impossible for Mr Umana Umana to poll 520,000 votes out of the total estimated 561,604 in the event that the appeal court upholds the rerun in the affected 18 local government areas.
By Mfonobong Ukpong
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