The main opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State, has declared its readiness to make the forthcoming local government elections a tough duel against the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Therefore, ahead of the contest, which the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) has fixed for October 26, 2024, to be conducted across the 31 local government areas and 368 wards, the leadership of APC in the state has declared it will fully participate and share the spoils.

In previous polls including the last conducted in 2020 under the immediate past governor Udom

Emmanuel, PDP clinched virtually all the chairmanship and councillorship positions, amid protest by the opposition.

But the APC has ruled out what it describes as a one-way ticket for the ruling PDP this time around, assuring party supporters and stakeholders that it would no longer be business as usual for Akwa Ibom to remain a one-party state.

Addressing leaders, elders and core loyalists of the APC during a stakeholders meeting in Uyo, the state capital at the weekend, Dr. Ita Udosen, the party’s zonal secretary, charged members to take full advantage of the election, stating that the party has commenced selling nomination forms in earnest for chairmanship and councillorship positions.

For a total commitment, Udosen, urged party leaders to “recognise and reward loyal members who have made sacrifices for the party’s success.”

He commended President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, for their leadership, which he described as impactful and inspiring, adding that such interventions have gone a long way in repositioning the party and put it in good stead for the contest.

In the same vein, the Director of Projects at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and convener of the forum, Sir Victor Antai, emphasised the importance of party unity and expressed his belief in the leadership of Senator Akpabio.

He said: “Akpabio is working tirelessly to positively impact the lives of the people and change the narrative for our party. We must believe in our party and work together to achieve victory in the upcoming election. Unity is key to our success, and I urge all party members to embrace it.”