Akwa Ibom 2015 – Umana Picks Engr Ben Ukpong as Running Mate, As State APC Exco Congratulates Him

The APC governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State,
Mr. Umana Okon Umana has presented his
governorship running mate, to the state Working
Committee of the party. In a meeting with the party
SWC, Mr. Umana presented Engr. Ben Ukpong as his
running mate for the 2015 governorship election.
Presenting Engr Ukpong, the governorship candidate
said that the party settled for Engr Ukpng in a
response to the yearnings of the people of the state
for a sense of belonging to all parts of the state,
balanced with capacity, experience and character.
He said that the choice of Ukpong was reached after
very wide consultations with the party hierarchy,
opinion leaders and stakeholders in the Akwa Ibom
project. He described Engr Ukpong as a tested
professional, a man with immense experience, a
community leader and Akwa Ibom patriot.
The SWC chaired by the Akwa Ibom state APC
chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Atta, congratulated Mr. Umana
for emerging victorious at the APC party primary
conducted on December 4, 2015 and thanked the
party’s national headquarters for affirming the
democratic decision of the party members. The
further praised the NWC of the party for eventually
submitting the name of Umana Okon Umana to the
Independent National Electoral Commission as the
party’s flag bearer in Akwa Ibom state.

In accepting the nomination of Engr Ukpong as the
party’s governorship running mate for the 2015
governorship election, the SWC described the choice
of Ukpong as a master stroke in its determination to
bring change to the people of the state, who have
been shortchanged in governance in the last seven
and half years. The party promised to continue to
spread appointments and positions to reflect the
diverse segments of the state and ensure that never
again would the people be subjected the type of
lopsidedness experienced in the state under the PDP
government in the state.
Engr Ben Ukpong, a retired Deputy Director of the
Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Abuja,
is a COREN-registered civil engineer and Fellow of
the Nigerian Society of Engineers. He comes from
Urue-offong/Oruko local government area of Oro
nation in Akwa Ibom State.
Engr. Ukpong brings to the Akwa Ibom APC ticket a
rich background of experience in public service,
quality education in some of Nigeria’s best
educational institutions and a distinguished track
record in community service and philanthropy.
Engr. Ukpong holds a Master’s degree in Water
Resources and Environmental Engineering from
Ahmadu Bello University; a Master of Business
Administration degree from Olabisi Onabanjo
University (formerly Ogun State University), Ago-
Iwoye and a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree
from University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
He has more than 28 years of work experience in the
Engineering Profession, covering various scopes of
engineering designs, construction supervision, and
project management.