2019: Umana dumps Ekere

. Umana’s faction reject former deputy governor, woo Udoma Udoma for guber race

.Ekere’s Hilltop Mansion dreams in shambles

There’s a massive crack in the bond existing between CEO of Oil & Gas Free Zone Authority (OGFZA) Umana Umana  and MD of Niger Delta Development Commission( NDDC)  Nsima Ekere, NEWS LINK can authoritatively disclose.

The duo who left PDP about two years ago to pitch tent with rival APC are said to have fallen apart over issues bordering on ego, trust and accountability.

According to impeccable sources, the problem brewing between the two APC strongmen has snowballed into a feisty struggle for control of vital structures within the APC. This, NEWS LINk learnt is not unconnected with the upcoming general election next year.

NEWS LINK can disclose on good authority that the Umana Faction repeatedly grew frustrated over the inability of the Ekere Group to be accountable with issues encircled around funds and privileges accruing to the state from the NDDC.

According to source, while the Umana Wing of the party was of the believe that the funds and privileges should be made to go round the support base of the party to oil and galvanize the party structures for the impending war of 2019, the Ekere Group has refused to pass the goodies around, preferring to hoard them and circulate them around their tiny cabal.

NEWS LINK can report that after growing fed up with the dubious antics of the Ekere Group, some dispirited Umana men within the party have vowed to switch their support to another guber candidate come next year.

According to impeccable source, the plot to dump Ekere by the Umana Faction has been sanctioned by the OGFZA Boss.

NEWS LINK’s investigations have revealed that since Umana is not favourably disposed to taking another shot at Hilltop Mansion in 2019 and is still not comfortable with the political calculations of Senator John Udoedehe who has refused to loosen his grip on the party, a keen attempt to lure Minister of Budget Udoma Udo Udoma into the political fray has been launched by Umana and his team.

According to party sources, the move by Umana is aimed at destabilizing Ekere and uprooting his 2019 hopes in a dash, long before the party guber primaries next year.

However, a close ally of Udoma who has turned the beautiful bride of the Umana Faction told NEWS LINK that the Budget Minister was not inclined to the Hilltop Mansion plan.

According to Udoma’s ally, the Minister who has kept a distance from the APC in Akwa Ibom State with reasons best known to him will require a lot of influence to lure him into what he doesn’t really fancy.