Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, finally ended months of speculations and permutations with the announcement of one of his cabinet members, Mr. Umo Eno, to succeed him as governor in 2023.

The Chief Press Secretary/Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on media, Mr. Ekerete Udoh, on Sunday confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo.

Udo said Emmanuel made the announcement at a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders’ meeting at Government House Lodge, Uyo, on Sunday evening.

He said: “Absolutely true, yes. At the PDP stakeholders’ meeting this evening, His Excellency announced Mr. Umo Eno, Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, as the preferred candidate to succeed him.

“And he was thereafter presented to the PDP stakeholders by former Gov. Victor Attah. So, that is true.”

However, Eno in his response, said he is grateful to God and to Emmanuel for finding him worthy of the onerous task to lead the people of the State.

Speaking after his presentation, Eno narrated how he grew up in the police barracks and how challenging those days were, but he summoned hope to overcome those difficulties.

He said he was grateful to God and Emmanuel for finding him worthy of the onerous task to lead the people of the state and continue the people-focused and developmental strides.

Bishop Uma Ukpai and the Prelate Emeritus of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Mbang, prayed for his success, a prayer that was re-echoed by the Oku Ibom Ibibio and Chairman of State Council of Chiefs, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk.

Among those who attended the event, were the Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo, MFR; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey; Senators Akon Eyakenyi, Effiong Bob, Ibok Essien, Aloysius Etok, former Deputy Governor, Etim Okpoyo; member representing Etinan Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Onofiok Luke; PDP chairman, Elder Aniekan Akpan; Barr Emmanuel Enoidem; the National Coordinator of the Maintain Peace Movement, Pat Ifon; member representing Eket Federal Constituency at the National Assembly and Member, PDP BOT, Chief Nduese Essien; a former Minister of Housing, Ambassador Assam Assam, SAN; Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Russia, Fathers of Faith, and other leading members of the state’s political class.