Isaac Job, Uyo
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Oil and Gas, Senator Bassey Albert representing Akwa Ibom North-East senatorial district has consulted the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the People Democratic Party (PDP) and declared his intention to contest the governorship primary election on its platform for 2023 general election.
The Senator who was accompanied by a mammoth crowd of supporters, well-wishers and party faithful thronged the Akwa Ibom State PDP Secretariat to formally inform the party of his readiness to contest for the office of governor in Akwa Ibom State, come 2023.
Addressing an enlarged Exco of the party, senator Akpan requested them to provide a levelled playing ground as a reward for his loyalty to the party in past years.
Senator Akpan who is contesting for the governorship against the tide assured the party that if the party will remain neutral in coordinating the primaries, he will win with a landslide to the glory of God and the state PDP.
He appreciated the party chairman, Hon Aniekan Akpan for maintaining stability in the party by his recent comments and actions.
He said there was a time when there was a growing concern in the state over the objectivity of the party but that to the glory of God, the leadership eventually arrested the situation.
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He debunked claims in a section of the media that he had problem with Governor Udom Emmanuel, insisting that his love for the governor remains intact.
He recalled that the love he always had for Gov Emmanuel made him step down in 2014, to pave way for the peaceful emergence of the sitting governor.
The same love, he said, was also repeated in 2019, when he remained the only senator standing by the governor for a second term after the others decamped to APC.
Enumerating his life-touching impacts, the senator enumerated some Akwa Ibom citizens he intervened with when they were victimised in their places of work.
Giving his scorecard in the 9th senate, he said he has sponsored about 426 students on scholarship, with monthly stipends. According to him, through his effort, about 21 of those students graduated with first-class honours.
The state Chairman, Aniekan Akpan, commended Senator Akpan for effective representation in the senate, describing him as “one of the finest”.
The party chairman that the PDP in Akwa Ibom is one united family adding that political party is for service and promised a level-playing field for all aspirants.
