2023: God'swill Akpabio declare's for president.

   

Nigeria’s race for the presidency in 2023 got a little more interesting as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio declared his intention to run for the office of president in the 2023 elections.

The former Akwa Ibom State Governor made the formal declaration today, Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in front of a massive turnout of supporters of the All Progressives Congress at the Ikot Ekpene township stadium same place he announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the ruling APC three years ago.

Mr Akpabio, a former two term governor of the Akwa Ibom State and immediate past Senate Minority, promised to place priority on security and economy if elected.

Mr Akpabio has now joined his colleague, Minister of Transport and former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi in the race to succeed their boss in 2023.

Amaechi and Akpabio served from 2007 to 2015 as governors of Rivers and Akwa Ibom States, respectively.

Mr Akpabio’s successor as governor, Udom Emmanuel, is also in the presidential race on PDP’s platform.

"Let me pronounce to you that you’ve had a lot of declarations, this one is uncommon. The message is not only a message of hope, not only a message of positive continuity; it is also a message that very soon the Egyptians you see today will see them no more.”

The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the APC is divided into two factions. One faction led by Stephen Ntukekpo is loyal to Mr Akpabio. Mr Ntukekpo’s faction was on ground at the stadium during the declaration.

However, the second faction led by Austin Ekanem, which is loyal to the former secretary of the party, John Akpanudoedehe, was conspicuously absent at the venue of Mr Akpabio’s presidential declaration.