Trouble in Umana's camp as he loses supporters to Benjamin Okoko

The entrance of Chief Benjamin Okoko into the 2015 governorship contest in Akwa Ibom state is already causing a stir as loyalists and supporters have abandoned Obong Umana Okon Umana and have already queued up behind Okoko as their preferred governorship aspirant.

Benjamin Okoko

The action of the erstwhile supporters of Obong Umana who until July 2013 was the Secretary to the State Government may not be unconnected to the rumours of a secret endorsement of Okoko by Governor Godswill Akpabio as his alternative candidate in the event that his well-advertised plan to install the current Secretary to the Government, Udom Emmanuel, fails to sail through. Okoko is from the favoured Eket Senatorial District.

Obong Umana who is said to be greatly troubled by the new development is reportedly working harder at ensuring that he emerges victorious at the PDP governorship primary scheduled for this October in Uyo.  

Benjamin Okoko, a quantity surveyor from Ikot Abasi is a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary and erstwhile Works Commissioner in Akwa Ibom state. He is said to have begun reaching out to a large section of political stakeholders across the state.

At a recent meeting with Hon. Chief Ekong Mex, Rt. Hon. Uwem Ekanem, Sir Justice S. U. Uwem, Prof. L. Ukpong and other political leaders at the Ferrostal Camp, Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, he pledged to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessors by driving the state positively and focusing on wanting critical sectors like agriculture, industry and human capital development.

Okoko’s entry into the governorship race might change the political permutation based on a generous measure of grassroots support and goodwill which he hopes to leverage on in his latest endeavour.

It would be recalled that Okoko had vied for the PDP ticket in 1998 alongside former Governor Attah, but was prevailed upon by Elders of the Eket Senatoial District to step down for Obong Victor Attah, in order to allow a candidate from the Uyo Senatorial District to complete their tenure.

It emerged that the 1998 PDP governorship panel which was headed by the late Dr Chuba Okadigbo was advised by the state leadership of the party to allow the Uyo senatorial district to complete her tenure which had started during the administration of Obong Akpan Isemin in the aborted third republic. According to the elders, Obong Isemin of Uyo Senatorial District didn’t complete his tenure, and as such, another indigene from the district needed to be supported. The elders from Eket Senatorial District after examining the issues raised agreed with the arrangement and urged Benjamin Okoko to step down.

Despite his touted popularity, however, Chief Okoko’s aspiration may already be running into some credibility issues. Not a few stakeholders have viewed his intention with skepticism, and have questioned his seriousness in the contest. This is because Okoko is seen as a businessman who has only come out to run for governor in order to receive monetary compensation from whoever he steps down for just like he did in 1998 and 2007.