-Accuses ADC Guber Candidate of Political Opportunism
A member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) State Caucus in Akwa Ibom State, Chief Mike Udosen, has accused the party’s governorship candidate, Senator John James Udoedehe, of failing to unite the party and pursuing what he described as personal political interests ahead of the 2027 election.
Chief Mike Udosen spoke in an exclusive interview with The Guide Newspaper at his residence in Uyo, where he described Udoedehe as a “joke” and an “unserious politician,” accusing him of making no effort to reconcile the various groups and structures within the ADC in the state.
“He has not made any attempt to reconcile any group or any structure of ADC in Akwa Ibom State, but rather he is going about abusing Governor Umo Eno,” Udosen said.
He said Udoedehe had instead been moving around with a small circle of people whom he described as having little political value in the state, while failing to build the party ahead of the election.
“Senator Udoedehe just wants to cash out from Atiku, the ADC presidential candidate, and the ADC party. The ADC party is a factional party in the state, yet he has done nothing to bring everyone together,” he said.
Udosen also questioned Udoedehe’s commitment to the state’s politics, saying he only resurfaces during election periods before returning to his private business after the polls.
“Senator Udoedehe only comes to Akwa Ibom State during election period and after the election, when he fails and has made millions from the party by deceiving them, he will go back and run his business,” he said.
“When another election year comes, he will resurface in another party and contest as a governor and collect money to come and polish a few miscreants that do not have any political value,” he added.
He also said Udoedehe had been moving around with Pat Akpabio.
On zoning, Udosen argued that the 2027 governorship contest should be considered within what he described as the existing political arrangement among Akwa Ibom’s senatorial districts.
He noted that Governor Umo Eno, who is from Uyo Senatorial District, has completed his first four-year term and, if re-elected, would complete a total of eight years in office.
Udosen said the governorship should thereafter move to Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, arguing that Udoedehe had not committed himself to serving only one term before handing over to the district.
“Senator Udoedehe did not come out to agree or meet anyone that he wants to contest for only one term and hand over to Ikot Ekpene, which will be their turn,” he said.
He maintained that a decision by Udoedehe to seek two terms would conflict with the zoning arrangement.
“So it simply means if Senator Udoedehe is being given the opportunity, he will run for two terms against the zoning arrangement. Ikot Ekpene people are supposed to produce the next governor after eight years, and so Senator Udoedehe going for this election will become selfish that he wants to run for two terms against the zoning arrangement,” he said.
Udosen urged Akwa Ibom people, particularly youths, not to be swayed by what he described as Udoedehe’s “political stunts and lies,” arguing that his repeated governorship contests had weakened the opposition in the state.
“Senator John Udoedehe came out in 2011 and caused death, came out in 2015 and caused confusion, came out in 2019, 2023 he still came out to contest, and in 2027 he has come out again to contest. He has failed woefully,” Udosen said.
“This is his fifth time coming out just to cash out from the election. He has not talked about the interest of anyone or any ethnic group in Akwa Ibom State,” he added.
Udosen also urged Governor Eno to be watchful of his aides, saying some of them meet with Udoedehe at night.
“Governor Umo Eno should be watchful of his aides who meet with Senator Udoedehe at night for meetings,” he said.
Udosen further questioned Udoedehe’s support for Atiku Abubakar, the ADC presidential candidate, saying he had not campaigned for the former vice president in his public appearances.
He attributed this to Udoedehe’s desire not to antagonise President Bola Tinubu, whom he said supported Udoedehe’s 2011 election bid.
“In all Senator Udoedehe’s interviews, he has not campaigned for Atiku, his party’s presidential candidate, because he doesn’t want to hurt Tinubu, who sponsored his election in 2011,” Udosen said.
