Africa Democratic Congress, ADC, has adopted Senator John James Akpan Udoedehe as her Governorship Candidate ahead of the 2023 general Election in Akwa Ibom State.

State Chairman of the party, Apostle Mathias Titus who led members of the State Working Committee of the Party on a solidarity visit to Akpanudoedehe at his Afaha Offot Chapel Villa residence, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Capital said the decision to endorse the NNPP Governorship Candidate was given the need to support a strong, reliable and credible candidate by opposition parties to win the governorship election in 2023. He said Senator John Udoedehe represents the best opposition brand with practical proposals which would solve the problems of Akwa Ibom State. Flanked by his executive members, Apostle Titus said it was the wish of opposition parties in Akwa Ibom State to form a strong and United front to capture power from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in 2023 and form what he described as the “Government of State Unity” where all the political parties will be represented and make inputs in the New Akwa which Senator Udoedehe and NNPP is proposing. 

Responding, Senator John Udoedehe expressed happiness at the endorsement saying his interest in the Akwa Ibom State governorship seat was to address the tripartite challenge of Poverty, Unemployment, and underdevelopment which he said has afflicted the masses and robbed them of their dignity. He said it was imperative that political blocs in the state collapse into an alliance in the best interest of the people promising to integrate the party into his mainstream campaign and government if elected in 2023.

Meanwhile, Stakeholders in Itu Ibiono and Etinan Federal Constituencies have called on Akwa Ibomites at home and in the diaspora to support Senator John Udoedehe to win the 2023 general election. They made the calls separately at a Townhall meeting organized at Abong Itam and independent Town Hall, Etinan on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. 

Speaking at Etinan during the Etinan Federal Constituency Townhall meeting, Elder Statesman, Arch Ekong Etuk, said he was moved by the capacity, consistency, and determination of Senator John Udoedehe in pushing his governorship ambition despite the hurdles posed by some elites forces against him, said he had no doubt that the former Local Government Chairman and Minister will deliver his promises to the masses.

At Itu, Candidate for Itu Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency under the platform of New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP,  Bassey Effiong, called for support to Senator John James Akpanudoedehe to win the 2023 governorship polls and implement programs that will better a lot of the suffering masses of the State.  Effiong a leading entrepreneur and philanthropist made the call at the ongoing Townhall Meetings of New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP held at Abong Itam in Itu Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. 

Recall that NNPP last week commenced her first Townhall meetings across the State where candidates of the party led by Senator John Udoedehe are meeting and interacting with electorates at the grassroots on how best NNPP shall serve them.

Effiong who hails from Ibiono Ibom said his election to the National Assembly to represent Itu Ibiono Federal Constituency will afford him the opportunity to give legislative backing to programs of the party as proposed by Ex-Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Senator John Udoedehe, Presidential and Governorship candidates of the party in 2023.  Effiong who has a long record of community development in the federal Constituency promised to empower the people more when elected.

At the Townhall meetings, Senator John Udoedehe debunked misleading claims about his ambition saying his interest in the State’s governorship seat was basically to make life better for the masses which he said has been the base of his Politics starting from when he contested and won election as a Local Government Chairman. Akpanudoedehe who so far has visited Ikot Ekpene, Eket, Ikot Abasi, Ikono Ini, and Oron Federal Constituencies said his government will be radically different from the past administrations as he has garnered more experiences in his struggle to build a people-oriented base in the state. 

Udoedehe who listed his plans to include, among others, ending masses poverty by empowering 1000 persons in each of the Local Government Areas with One Million Naira to start Small and Medium Scale Enterprises to become self-sufficient and generate employment also vowed not to disappoint the state if elected.