Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has revealed one of his cabinet members, Pastor Umo Eno, as the preferred candidate to succeed him.
Udom made this decision known on Sunday evening during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders’ meeting held at the Governor’s Lodge, in Uyo, the state capital.
In the meeting which was held behind closed doors, news sources including Channels Television reliably gathered that a former Governor of the state, Obong Victor Attah was also present and after Governor Emmanuel’s endorsement he made the formal presentation of Pastor Eno to the stakeholders.
Pastor Eno is the current Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources. He thanked the governor for finding him worthy to be his successor.
He was appointed commissioner in January 2021. Before then, he had managed a hotel in Eket and organised food supplies for Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited.
Prelate Emeritus of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Sunday Mbang and Bishop Uma Ukpai as well as the Oku Ibom Ibibio and Chairman of State Council of Chiefs, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk prayed for his success.
Other stakeholders at the meeting include the Deputy Governor, Moses Ekpo; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Aniekan Bassey; Senators Akon Eyakenyi, Effiong Bob, Ibok Essien, and Aloysius Etok.
Former Deputy Governor, Etim Okpoyo; Member, representing Etinan Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Onofiok Luke; PDP Party Chairman, Aniekan Akpan; Emmanuel Enoidem, the National Coordinator of the Maintain Peace Movement, (MPM) Pat Ifon; Member representing Eket Federal Constituency at the National Assembly were also present at the meeting.
