Ahead of next month’s governorship primary, no fewer than 42 aspirants are jostling for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State with many of them from Eket Senatorial District.

Our correspondent in Uyo can confirm authoritatively that almost all of them have bought the party’s nomination form in preparation for the party’s nomination with the immediate past Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, almost the last governorship hopeful to do so..

In the list of aspirants angling to succeed Governor Godswill Akpabio in 2015 Bishop Samuel Akpan, Obong Umanah Okon Umanah, former Commissioner for Finance, Obong Bassey Albert, former Deputy Governor of the state, Obong Nsima Ekere, former Ambassader to Russia, Asam Asam-SAN, a former Senior Personal Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan, Professor Richard King.

Others are former Minister of Women Affairs and serving Senator, Senator Helen Esuene business, former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the state, Mr. Ekpenyong Ntekim, former Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Effiong Abia to mention a few.

Speaking during his declaration, one of the aspirants, Bishop Akpan, said the core reason for his joining the race was to enable him to wipe out poverty from the shores of the state through jobs generation and industrialization, bringing new development and creation of new cities, improve on the economic and financial profile and total transformation of the state.

“We will have no business again with poverty. Poverty must be wiped away, unemployment will be a thing of the past and no longer the portion of the people of Akwa-Ibom State. I will continue with infrastructural development of the state and completely remove poverty from our land.

“When people talk about industrialization, it is you that will own the industries while government provides the enabling environment, the good policies and regulations that will drive the industries”, Bishop Akpan stated.

In appreciation of the good works of President Goodluck Jonathan and his pragmatic leadership style, he assured that no vote from the state would go to any other party in the presidential elections so that he could return to the presidency to do his good works.

Speaking at the occasion, National Secretary of the Jonathan Mandate Group (JOMAG), Mr. Uyime S. Udoh announced that the group decided in its General Assembly held last week to adopt Bishop Akpan as its candidate for the 2015 governorship elections and implored all Akwa-Ibom indigenes to support the project.