Udoedeh Enters Akwa Ibom Guber Race Citing Poverty Issues

John Jame Udoedeh, the former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, has declared his intention to contest in the 2027 governorship election for Akwa Ibom State. During a media interaction in Uyo on Thursday, Udoedeh attributed his decision to the rising levels of poverty and unemployment in the state.

He criticized the economic hardships faced by residents despite significant allocations to the state government, highlighting that poverty and unemployment have worsened under the leadership of past governors, including Godswill Akpabio and Udom Emmanuel, who collectively governed for 16 years. Udoedeh expressed confidence in his ability to secure the governorship ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and dismissed claims that he entered the race for financial negotiations, labeling such allegations as blackmail.

He remains optimistic about winning the election despite previous unsuccessful attempts, citing the political journeys of Alex Otti and Chukwuma Soludo as examples of perseverance in politics.