By Isaiah Eka
There was massive turnout during the All Progressives Congress (APC), House of Representative primaries across wards in Akwa Ibom on Saturday.
A visit by our Correspondent to St Michael’s Primary School, Uffot, ward 6 in Uyo, revealed that party members were seen queuing behind Mr Mark Esset’s picture, APC candidate for Uyo federal constituency.
Speaking to newsmen after the primaries, the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom Government, Mr Enobong Uwah, said the massive turnout was a reflection of Gov Umo Eno’s impressive performance in the past three years.
Uwah, also the political leader of Uyo Local government Area commended APC for adopting direct primaries, saying that it has entrenched democracy and has given members, especially women the opportunity to support any aspirant their choice.
He applauded party faithful for coming out en masse and conducting themselves peacefully at the exercise.
The SSG urged them to continue to support the party and all the candidates that would be elected to fly the party’s flag in subsequent primaries.
“As you can see, this is a direct primary, of course, in a direct primary, you choose to stand behind the aspirant that you want to be the candidate of the party.
“I prefer this one over the few delegates, who will sit in one room or one hotel and vote for one person.
“In my place we are rallying around Mark Esset, he is a very popular candidate. You know we are still giving the same votes in the general elections to win and go back to represent us in the House of Representatives.
“That is why after that consensus, you still have to come out to the field to prove that everybody has agreed and that is what you have seen here today.
“I want them to continue to support the governor, he means well for our people and that is why we have this peaceful environment. Of course, we know how primaries used to be before, but today’s event showed how peaceful our state is,” Yeah said.
Commenting on the primaries, Mr Inibehe Emmanuel, Chairman ward 6, Uyo local government area said the primaries were very successful, as everyone came to support the party candidate.
“We are more than 6000 registered members in this ward 6 in Uyo federal constituency of Akwa Ibom, and today all of us have come to vote for Mr Mark Esset to go back and represent us in the national assembly.
“Today’s event was very successful, peaceful and rancour free. This is signs of good governance of our governor,” Emmanuel said.
Meanwhile at the end of the exercise, Mark Esset polled a total of 5, 615 votes as announced by the returning officer, Mr. Jude Oliver.
