2019 : APC guber aspirant defies attack, declares intention to run

APC Governorship aspirant, Barr. Venatius Ikem

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Mr Venatius Ikem, who was attacked by political thugs in Obudu local government area while declaring his intention to run for next year's election has said he will not be intimidated.

Ikem, a lawyer and former Commissioner in the state, was attacked by a large group of thugs, armed with various weapons, at the APC Secretariat in Obudu in the northern senatorial district of the state.

Several persons sustained various degrees of injuries. They vandalized the secretariat building and destroyed billboards.

But still carrying on with his declaration to large number of supporters in Obudu later on, Ikem, a former local government chairman of the area, said he would not be intimidated because his intention had been approved by God.

At the event where he handed over his letter of intent to the Obudu chapter chairman of the party, Mathias Ugbelishor, he said, "I think I have consulted God sufficiently and I think I can only be here, because God has approved my intention and I have prayed as I have never prayed before and I said to God search my heart. If my heart is pure and the intentions of my people genuine, God should lead me where I am going."

In the letter of intent, Ikem said his aspiration was based on the passionate belief and confidence that he can he can discharge the functions of the office of Governor creditably well based on a verifiable track record of achievements in his varied public service career spanning over two decades.

Various chapter chairmen from across the state who were in attendance condemned the attack, also emphasizing the party will not be intimidated.

They described the attack as an unnecessary act of desperation and expressed confidence that they were going to win the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in next year's elections.

Obudu is also the home local government area of the state governor, Prof Ben Ayade.