The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, has meted out the sum of N155 million to youths of the state.

In a meeting with some youths from 31 local government areas of the state at the Hilltop Mansion Government House, on Saturday, the youths were given the money to empowerment the youths.

One of the beneficiaries, who also sought anonymity, revealed that the 31 local government areas went home with N5m each. He also said that the purpose of the meeting was to convince the local government youth leaders to support the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Udom Emmanuel in the forthcoming polls.

“The meeting was about us supporting the government in this election. There is nothing more. I don’t see anything wrong if the governor decides to empower us. He has really tried. The event was not secret; it was transmitted live from Akwa Ibom State Broadcasting Corporation,” he said.

It was gathered that some of the youths who were not invited but found their way into the Banquet Hall where the money was shared got N50,000 each.

The gubernatorial election in Akwa Ibom State is a two horse race between Obong Umana Okon Umana of the All Progressives Congress and Udom Emmanuel of PDP.