By Ime Silas
Dr. Emaeyak Ukpong, a former House of Representatives member representing Uyo Federal Constituency yesterday emerged winner of primary election conducted by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to elect candidate for Akwa Ibom Northeast (Uyo) Senatorial District for the forthcoming 2023 poll.
The primary election held at the State Headquarters of APC located on #6 Ekpo Obot street, Uyo, was conducted by the Uyo Senatorial District Primaries Election Committee chaired by Rt. Hon Prince Akpabio Ukpa and Hon. Toby Aganin as member. On hand to monitor the exercise was a member of the National Senatorial Primary Election Committee, Hon. (Mrs.) Obianaka Enechukwu.
Dr. Ukpong a former Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities, ASUU, University of Uyo Chapter, polled a total of 440 votes to defeat his other three contenders.
The result announced by Rt.Hon. Ukpa-led Committee had two former House of Representatives members, Hon. Bassey Etim and Rt. Hon Emmanuel Ekpenyong score 19 and one votes, respectively, while a United States-based Medical Doctor, Ndem Ndem scored zero.
There are nine local government areas in the Senatorial District to wit: Etinan, Ibesikpo Asutan, Ibiono Ibom, Nsit Atai, Nsit Ibom, Nsit Ubium, Itu, Uruan and Uyo.
Breakdown of the votes show Emaeyak Ukpong scoring 55 (fifty five) of all the votes cast by delegates from Etinan local government area.
From Ibesikpo Asutan, Ibiono Ibom, Nsit Atai, Nsit Ibom, Itu and Uyo delegates, Emaeyak scored 47, 55, 50, 50, 50, 55 votes respectively, while all his three rivals had no votes.
Out of a total of 48 votes cast by delegates from Uruan where he hails from, Hon. Bassey Etim scored 18 to come second while Dr. Emaeyak Ukpong won with 29 and Emmanuel Ekpenyong, 1 vote.
Emaeyak Ukpong had 49, Bassey Etim 1, while Ndem Ndem had none from votes cast by delegates from Nsit Ubium local government area.
Out of the 470 accredited voters, a total of ten void votes were recorded.
In his post victory speech, Dr. Ukpong, while thanking all the delegates for the confidence reposed in him by their overwhelming votes, pledged to do all within his capacity, if eventually elected to represent the Senatorial District in the Red Chambers of the National Assembly come 2023, to better the lives of his fellow constituents.
He congratulated his co-contestants whom he described as best materials, for presenting themselves to serve the people of the Senatorial District. While calling on his co-contestants to join hands with him to win the general election, Dr. Ukpong noted that his emergence doesn’t mean he was the best in the contest. He reasoned that it was rather the will of the Almighty God that he should steer the struggle to usher in an effective representation for the overall good of Uyo Senatorial District.