E-Focus Akwa Ibom State

E-Focus or Election-Focus aims to study each state and understand what role the state will play in determining who becomes president in 2015. This article  will focus on Akwa Ibom State. 

Akwa Ibom State Governor

Obong (Barrister) Godswill Akpabio

Akwa Ibom state named after the Qua Iboe river and was created in 1987 from the former Cross River State and is currently the highest oil and gas producing state in the country. The state’s capital is Uyo. Akwa Ibom has an airport and two major sea ports on the Atlantic Ocean with the proposed construction of a world class seaport Ibaka Seaport at Oron. Dr. Godswill Akpabio currently governs the state. 

Results of the 2011 Presidential Election in Akwa Ibom State

For anyone current in Nigerian politics it is safe to say that the Akwa Ibom State Governor is currently the most vocal and ardent supporter of president Goodluck Jonathan amongst the Nigerian governors, safe to say for Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State.  This has earned Obong Akpabio the esteemed position of Chairman of the PDP Governor’s Forum and a seat on the PDP Mini Convention Special Committee. 

Results of the 2011 Governorship Election in Akwa Ibom State

Looking at the two pie charts depicted on this page it is clear that the PDP has a huge and overhwleming control of the politics of Akwa Ibom state. There have been a plethora of media reports about the ‘uncommon transformation’ going on in Akwa Ibom State which would suggest that the Governor is a working and popular governor. This only portends good things to come for the PDP in 2015, while it is a serious challenge for the All Progressive’s Congress. 

If president Jonathan wins the PDP nomination in 2015, it is very clear that he will receive maximum support from Governor Akpabio and the PDP will likely win the state by a similar margin to that of 2011. 

The challenge for the APC in Akwa Ibom is to try to find a way to establish itself, probably by identifying and engaging disgrnuntled members of the PDP and key opposition figures. Even if this is done it is highly improbable that the APC can win upto 5% of the votes in Akwa Ibom. 

Consequently, the PDP candidate will most probably win with at least 95% of the total votes cast in 2015, if not more.