BY SOLOMON OKPO
The Member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Unyime Idem, has declared that the overwhelming electoral support expected for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Akwa Ibom State must translate into increased federal projects, appointments, and development interventions for the state.
Rep. Idem made the declaration during the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly primaries held in Ward 8, Ukanafun Local Government Area, where he openly queued behind Emem Udom, who emerged unopposed as the party’s candidate for a second term in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
The federal lawmaker, who also chairs the House of Representatives Committee on Public Procurement, later joined APC stakeholders and supporters at the State Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, for the collation of results.
Speaking with publishers led by Comrade OsuiniAbasi Alfred, President General of ANPA, shortly after the exercise, Idem said the huge support being mobilised for President Tinubu in Akwa Ibom would strengthen the state’s bargaining position for more federal presence and infrastructure.
According to him, the people of Akwa Ibom have demonstrated uncommon political commitment toward the President and deserve corresponding attention from the Federal Government.
“Akwa Ibom cannot give Mr. The president has less than one million votes, and I know it is going to be more than that,” Idem stated.
“With this, we are expecting so much from the Federal Government, and most of these things will come through the representatives of Akwa Ibom, which I am one of them.”
He further stressed that elected representatives from the state would continue to engage the Presidency with measurable political contributions and performance records to justify greater federal attention to Akwa Ibom.
“When we are speaking to the Federal Government and to Mr. President, we need to show working by presenting our scorecard and saying: ‘Mr. President, this is what we did during your election; therefore, we deserve more attention here in Akwa Ibom.’ That is what the votes will translate to,” he said.
At the collation centre in Uyo, the APC Returning Officer, Governor Umo Eno, announced that President Tinubu secured 389,197 votes in the exercise.
The APC primaries across the area were largely peaceful and witnessed massive participation by party faithful, stakeholders, and grassroots supporters as the ruling party intensified preparations for the next electoral cycle.
