Baring an unlikely last minute change of mind by Governor Godswill Akpabio, the Permanent Secretary at the Government House, Sir Etekamba Umoren, will be sworn-in as the new Secretary to the State Government of Akwa Ibom State, South-South Nigeria.

Top-level sources at the Government House in Uyo informed News Express that Sir Umoren, a graduate of the University of Benin and a Chartered Personnel Manager, has been chosen by Governor Akpabio to replace the erstwhile SSG, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, who was forced to resign yesterday – barely five days after he formally declared his ambition to contest the 2015 governorship position in the state contrary to the wish of Chief Akpabio, who had nominated him as the next Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

“I can tell you that Sir Etekamba Umoren is the new SSG-designate and that all is now set for his swearing-in,” an impeccable source told News Express.

This effectively closes the door on Mr. Umana and puts a big question mark on his political future. It is not yet known if he would remain in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to slug it out with Akpabio’s preferred candidate or decamp and seek to realise his ambition on another platform.

•Photo shows Sir Umoren.