… A’Ibom Adhoc delegates congress free, fair, transparent – Party Chieftain
Patrick Antia
Plot by some Akwa Ibom PDP Governorship aspirants led by Senator Bassey Albert, Mr Akan Okon and Mr Akan Udofia to sponsor some thugs to stage a protest at the PDP National Secretariat, Abuja has been described as not only politically mischievous but also unreasonable, a security source privy to the plot has declared.
The trio who was physically present at the PDP State Secretariat, Atan Ofot, Uyo where materials for the Adhoc delegates congress were distributed on Saturday, are alleged to have perfected moves to finance protest against the outcome of the Congress which was adjudged free and fair by both the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies who monitored the exercise as required by law.
According to a source, “OBA, Akan Okon, Akan Udofia have perfected moves to get some youths to stage a protest in Abuja to create the impression that no congress took place. But security reports and media reports have made nonsense of such moves as it is obvious the Congress took place across the 329 wards of the 31 local government areas in the state”.
“INEC itself was a witness to the Congress and the same National Working Committee, NWC, of the party that they are planning to protest to were the ones who sent officials who conducted the Primaries in the state. Apart from their being mischievous, it makes no sense trying to create an imaginary crisis in a process that was transparent, free and fair simply because they feel their preferred candidates lost at the Congress”.
It could be recalled that the PDP in line with its timetable for the 2023 general election held its Adhoc delegates congress across the country on Saturday, April 30, 2022, where three delegates per ward were elected. The delegates are expected to vote for those who will fly the party’s ticket for various elective positions later this month.
Reacting to the planned protest, a PDP chieftain from Ikot Abasi, Engr Umoh Philip, described the move as unnecessary, stating that power comes from God and that the party must be commended for conducting a congress in a manner that was peaceful, orderly and transparent. He called on Akwa Ibom youths not to allow themselves to be used by any selfish politician to derail the prevailing peace in the state and unity in the party.
In a related development, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel has applauded the peaceful and equitable conduct of congresses for the three-per-Ward ad-hoc delegates election across the State.
Speaking at the QIC Group School, Awa Iman, in Onna, where he joined other members of the PDP in Awa Ward 1 for the exercise, the Governor commended the impressive turnout of party faithful and the brotherhood exhibited in the exercise.
He congratulated the trio who emerged winners at the Awa Ward 1 congress in Onna and other wards actress the State and expressed hope that the delegates will represent their constituencies well in the upcoming party primaries.
The Returning Officer for Awa Ward 1, Obonganwan Abigail Akpan, from Ikot Ekpene Chapter of the PDP, thanked the Governor and leader of the party in the state for coming down to participate in the ad hoc delegates’ election in the ward. She also thanked the party faithful in ward for maintaining a conducive atmosphere yielding to the smooth conduct of the exercise.
Mercy Akainyene scored 45 votes, Ubong Ekefre 52, Nkanang Nkanang 36 of the 133 total votes, to emerge winners in a contest that saw the adoption of option A4 method by the returning officer.