Aggrieved Akwa Ibom PDP aspirants want Udom replaced AGGRIEVED People’s Democratic Party (PDP) aspirants in Akwa Ibom State yesterday asked President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the party to replace the state PDP governorship candidate, Emmanuel Udom, within the next four days. The aspirants, who took their protest to the Akwa Ibom PDP caucus in the Senate yesterday, said that the February elections would produce grave consequences for the PDP if the alleged irregularities and injustices perpetrated during the party’s primaries in the state are not corrected. Former Akwa Ibom State deputy governor, Nsima Ekere, who led the aspirants, said the Senate Akwa Ibom caucus members were in support of the aggrieved aspirants. According to him: “In Akwa Ibom State in the build up to the primary elections, 23 members bought forms to contest. Unfortunately, due to certain issues, that exercise was conducted in a shoddy manner. Twenty-two of the 23 that showed interest have been together condemning the affront on democracy.” “The reason we are worried is that we are loyal members and we are concerned that the development will have impact on the outcome of the general elections. Where there is no justice and equity, it is going to be garbage in, garbage out. “We want PDP to present a credible candidate that will be able to win the party and not somebody who thinks he has the resources to subvert elections. “The entire members of PDP in Akwa Ibom State are waiting for the outcome of the appeal. The three senators from Akwa Ibom State are in solidarity with the G22. “Six of the nine members in the House of Representatives are in solidarity. The other one is already in APC. Of the 26 members of the House, 14 of them are in solidarity. This tells of the support we have in the state. Where then lies the power of PDP in the state. The party needs to condemn such. In a remark, Senator Helen Esuene said she was acting in dual capacity of a sitting senator as well as a gubernatorial candidate. She said: “We are here because we have been driven to the wall. “It is most unfortunate that after 31 days of waiting, we have not been given even a mere courtesy by the party. Today, we have come to the National Assembly Press Corp to also let you know of what is happening in PDP. “It is everybody’s expectations that they would have behaved better. This G-22 has not been fairly treated by the party. As loyal members of the party, we did not consider it an option to move out of the party but if are pushed to the wall, we will have no option to go where we are needed. If out of 23, it is proper to sacrifice 22 people for one person, no problem, we will go where we are needed.” Chairman of the Akwa Ibom caucus in the National Assembly, Solomon Ita Enang, said the grievances of the aspirants would be presented to the President of the Senate, David Mark, for onward transmission to President Jonathan. He said: “One man wants to produce the governor, senators, members of the House of Representatives and members of the state House of Assembly. “We are concerned that this is not an internal matter. An election in the state is a matter of international concern. All other candidates of other political parties are from PDP. In Akwa Ibom State, it appears he is the campaign manager for the opposition party through his actions. “The PDP members have known those who bought their forms, they may want to know where they are and vote for them irrespective of their parties. As much as I know, the people are looking for Akwa Ibom governor other than that chosen by Governor Godswill Akpabio. “I want to plead that the common sentiment in Akwa Ibom is his to rescue the state from the dynasty of one man. If we don’t correct this, we will wait for the consequence. “If there is injustice in PDP, they will not continue to vote for the party.
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 08:39:58 +0000
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