The aggrieved chieftains under the aegis of the Stakeholders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) elders in Akwa Ibom have rejected the zoning arrangement proposed by Governor Godswill Akpabio and a petition has been presented to the President and the leadership of the party.This was disclosed on Friday by a former member of the House of
Representatives, Honourable Bernard Udoh who spoke with newsmen in
Abuja, said the decision on zoning was unpopular and undemocratic.
He said, the state governor did not carry along members of PDP on the
issue of zoning of the governorship slot in the state to Eket
Senatorial district, as according to him the decision was unilateral
This is coming as the PDP stakeholders in Akwa Ibom alleged that the governor had been directing affairs in Akwa Ibom PDP, using his family members and cronies as PDP officials, just to exclude the founding fathers and a horde of loyal members from the PDP affairs.
The allegations against Akpabio are contained in a petition filed by 60 elders of the party before the National Secretariat of PDP, President Goodluck Jonathan and the Board of Trustees of PDP.
Top PDP elders in Akwa Ibom who signed the petition include, Otuekong Sunny Jackson, party elder and former legislator, Senator Alloysius Etuk, Ambassador Assam Assam (SAN), Engr Chris Ekpenyong, former Deputy Governor, Obong Rita Akpan, former Minister and Barrister Peter Linus Umoh former Speaker Akwa Ibom Assembly.
Others include Chief Nelson Effiong, former Speaker, Hon Bernard Udoh former Reps, Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo former Reps, Hon Tony Esu former Reps, Hon Uwem Udoma, former Deputy Speaker, Hon Chief Soni Udom former Reps and Hon Barrister Uwem Ekanem, former House Leader, Hon Emmanuel Obot, former Reps and others.
They stakeholders told the PDP national officers that the party runs the risk of experiencing a disastrous outing during the 2015 general elections in the effect of their failure to resolve the problem of factionalisation caused by the state governor in the party.
The stakeholders in the petition made available to newsmen in Abuja alleged also that the state governor had been showing desperation to keep a stranglehold on PDP in the state.
They alleged that Akpabio and his henchmen unilaterally relocated the PDP State secretariat to the private residence of one of his brother, Barrister Ibanga Akpabio from its original location at 149 Ikot Ekpene Road, Uyo
They said with that ploy, party members suspected to be opposed to the governor’s position on party matters had repeatedly been prevented from accessing the private residence where the PDP affairs were being run.
They reported also that Akpabio had complied a list of handpicked and ad hoc delegates as his trump card for actualizing his plan to impose a stooge during the next governorship primary of PDP in Akwa Ibom state.
The stakeholders, however, appealed to the National Secretariat to assist in ensuring the relocation of the party secretariat to its original location for all members in Akwa Ibom to have free access.
The petition read, “The Governor personalized the party by withdrawing one of his former Commissioners and friend Mr. Paul Ekpo from the state Executive Cabinet and made him the State Party Chairman.
“Similarly, he hand-picked his junior brother Barr. Ibanga Akpabio as the State Party Secretary and also made his Special Assistant on Youth Mobilization Mr. Emmanuel Ekpenyong as the State Youth Leader. The rest of the so-called Party Officers are either his cronies or relatives.
“Expectedly, the State Party Exco does only the Governor’s bidding and acts only at his whims. Since its inception in 2012, the State Executive Committee or Working Committee of the party has not met as required by the party constitution.
“The hand-picked party chairman features merely as figure head while the party is being run by the Governor’s brothers. Crucial party matters are being handled by either Emem Akpabio or Ibanga Akpabio or Nsetip Akpabio or Prince Akpabio and whenever party meetings are desirable, they are held in the private residences of the said brothers of Governor Akpabio.
“Our party elders, stakeholders and founding members are completely alienated from the affairs of the party. In particular, founding fathers of the party from Akwa Ibom State viz. His Excellency Obong Victor Attah, Atuekong Don Etiebet, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma etc. have been totally sidelined and alienated from party affairs in the state. This is definitely ominous for the party.
“Moreover, as part of his scheme to impose a governorship candidate on the party and the electorates for the 2015 elections, the governor has arranged town hall meetings attended by only his cabinet members, hired thugs and those who are supportive of his position to ratify his preferred candidate (his current SSG) Mr. Udom Emmanuel as the Party’s candidate for the 2015 general election.
“This happens even when the said Udom Emmanuel was yet to attain the mandatory two years in the party to be qualified to contest for office.
Source
This is coming as the PDP stakeholders in Akwa Ibom alleged that the governor had been directing affairs in Akwa Ibom PDP, using his family members and cronies as PDP officials, just to exclude the founding fathers and a horde of loyal members from the PDP affairs.
The allegations against Akpabio are contained in a petition filed by 60 elders of the party before the National Secretariat of PDP, President Goodluck Jonathan and the Board of Trustees of PDP.
Top PDP elders in Akwa Ibom who signed the petition include, Otuekong Sunny Jackson, party elder and former legislator, Senator Alloysius Etuk, Ambassador Assam Assam (SAN), Engr Chris Ekpenyong, former Deputy Governor, Obong Rita Akpan, former Minister and Barrister Peter Linus Umoh former Speaker Akwa Ibom Assembly.
Others include Chief Nelson Effiong, former Speaker, Hon Bernard Udoh former Reps, Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo former Reps, Hon Tony Esu former Reps, Hon Uwem Udoma, former Deputy Speaker, Hon Chief Soni Udom former Reps and Hon Barrister Uwem Ekanem, former House Leader, Hon Emmanuel Obot, former Reps and others.
They stakeholders told the PDP national officers that the party runs the risk of experiencing a disastrous outing during the 2015 general elections in the effect of their failure to resolve the problem of factionalisation caused by the state governor in the party.
The stakeholders in the petition made available to newsmen in Abuja alleged also that the state governor had been showing desperation to keep a stranglehold on PDP in the state.
They alleged that Akpabio and his henchmen unilaterally relocated the PDP State secretariat to the private residence of one of his brother, Barrister Ibanga Akpabio from its original location at 149 Ikot Ekpene Road, Uyo
They said with that ploy, party members suspected to be opposed to the governor’s position on party matters had repeatedly been prevented from accessing the private residence where the PDP affairs were being run.
They reported also that Akpabio had complied a list of handpicked and ad hoc delegates as his trump card for actualizing his plan to impose a stooge during the next governorship primary of PDP in Akwa Ibom state.
The stakeholders, however, appealed to the National Secretariat to assist in ensuring the relocation of the party secretariat to its original location for all members in Akwa Ibom to have free access.
The petition read, “The Governor personalized the party by withdrawing one of his former Commissioners and friend Mr. Paul Ekpo from the state Executive Cabinet and made him the State Party Chairman.
“Similarly, he hand-picked his junior brother Barr. Ibanga Akpabio as the State Party Secretary and also made his Special Assistant on Youth Mobilization Mr. Emmanuel Ekpenyong as the State Youth Leader. The rest of the so-called Party Officers are either his cronies or relatives.
“Expectedly, the State Party Exco does only the Governor’s bidding and acts only at his whims. Since its inception in 2012, the State Executive Committee or Working Committee of the party has not met as required by the party constitution.
“The hand-picked party chairman features merely as figure head while the party is being run by the Governor’s brothers. Crucial party matters are being handled by either Emem Akpabio or Ibanga Akpabio or Nsetip Akpabio or Prince Akpabio and whenever party meetings are desirable, they are held in the private residences of the said brothers of Governor Akpabio.
“Our party elders, stakeholders and founding members are completely alienated from the affairs of the party. In particular, founding fathers of the party from Akwa Ibom State viz. His Excellency Obong Victor Attah, Atuekong Don Etiebet, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma etc. have been totally sidelined and alienated from party affairs in the state. This is definitely ominous for the party.
“Moreover, as part of his scheme to impose a governorship candidate on the party and the electorates for the 2015 elections, the governor has arranged town hall meetings attended by only his cabinet members, hired thugs and those who are supportive of his position to ratify his preferred candidate (his current SSG) Mr. Udom Emmanuel as the Party’s candidate for the 2015 general election.
“This happens even when the said Udom Emmanuel was yet to attain the mandatory two years in the party to be qualified to contest for office.
Source
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