The Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Nsima Udo Ekefere has resigned from his position with immediate effect.
Sources told pointblanknews.com that the Deputy Governor resigned on “personal grounds.” But another insider in the State Government said the Deputy Governor resigned to prepare ground to for his bid to take over from Governor Godswill Akpabio in 2015.
Nsima is from the Eket Senatorial District which has been agitating for the Governorship in 2015 and and believes he is strong enough to battle forces from the Ibibio group in the state who are bent on clinching the Governorship after Gov. Akpabio
A group under the auspices of Unity Successive Mandate (USM) had made a case for the position to be zoned to Eket Senatorial District (Akwa Ibom South) because, according to it, the area has never produced an elected governor for the state.
The group also threw it weight behind the aspiration of the State Deputy Governor, Mr. Nsima Udo Ekere, to succeed his boss, the governor in 2015.
Sources told Pointblanknews.com that Nsima has been under intensed pressure to dump the Akpabio Government and begin immediate preparation ahead of 2015.
Already, the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Umana Okon Umana is favored to take over from Governor Akpabio. Although, Chief Umana is yet to formally declare his intention, sources told Pointblanknews.com that he is the candidate to beat as he is described as a deft politician and a strategist who has mastered the politics of Akwa Ibom State having served all the Administrations since 1999.