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Tag: Akwa Ibom PDP

  • Police take over Akwa Ibom PDP secretariat

    Police take over Akwa Ibom PDP secretariat

    Security operatives have taken over the People’s Democratic Secretariat in Akwa Ibom to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

    The development followed claims and counted claims of the dissolution of the State Working Committee (SWC) by the National Working Committee of the Party (NWC). 

    The National Publicity Secretary of PDP Debo Ologunagba dissolved the state exco and appointing a 31-member caretaker committee.

    But the National Secretary of the party Senator Samuel Anyanwu issued a counter statement, declaring there was no NWC meeting where such decision was taken. 

    Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom state Àniekan Akpan described the purported sack of his executive by the National Working Committee of the party(NWC) as illegal. 

    He declared the state exco as intact till, stating they will serve out the four-year tenure which they were elected, adding that divisive elements within the party are working hard to kill the PDP in the state.

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    He told reporters on Thursday: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State wishes to address a recent wave of misinformation circulating on social media platforms, particularly on Facebook, claiming the dissolution of our duly elected State Executive Committee (Exco). We categorically state that these reports are not only false but also unconstitutional”. 

    Akpan, who was surrounded by all the purportedly sacked exco members, explained the PDP is governed by the rule of law and guided by the party constitution adding  that the Exco members were elected in a well constituted state Congress for a fix term of 4 years . 

    Akpan further explained that some of the Exco members were falsely  listed in the new Caretaker Committee without their consent.

    He said the NWC that allegedly sacked them never had any formal meeting before they settled on the such decision adding  that the PDP National Secretary has issued a press statement in that regard . 

    Akpan appealed to party members , supporters and general public to disregard the false report and remain committed to the lawful leadership of the party in Akwa Ibom state . 

    The party chairman said he would continue to be identified with Governor Umo Eno as the governor is not only the leader of APC but leading entire state across party lines 

    ” The party can not separate us from Governor Umo Eno . He is the governor for all . Nobody can say we have engaged in anti party by hobnobbing with the Governor,” he said 

  • Mass defection hits Akwa Ibom PDP

    The exodus from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’in Akwa Ibom State continued on Thursday with the defection of thousands of its members to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ibeno and Esit Eket Local Government Areas.

    The PDP lost over 1,500 members in Ibeno and over 2,700 members in Esit Eket during the APC’s campaign rallies in the two local government areas.

    The Ibeno defectors led by Comrade Maurice Okon, a popular youth leader, included some former APC members who said they were returning after being lured to the PDP with fake promises to support Governor Udom Emmanuel for a second term by a former House of Assembly member from the area.

    Receiving the Ibeno defectors, Dr Ita Udosen, the Akwa Ibom State APC Deputy Chairman, assured them of equal rights and privileges with old members of the party.

    Mr Ini Okopido, the APC State Chairman, who received the Esit Eket defectors, said it was clear that Esit Eket has turned completely APC, comparing the thousands of defectors from the PDP to the three APC members that left for PDP last week

    He noted with delight that the defectors included many PDP ward executives and members of the PDP Grassroots Foundation led by Mr Samuel Edet.

    Mr Edet, Prince John Ekpo and Engr Messianic Umana, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, assured the APC state leadership that the PDP had no place in Esit Eket again.

    In his remarks, Obong Nsima Ekere, the APC Governorship Candidate in Akwa Ibom State, said he was convinced that Esit Eket people will vote for all APC candidates in the elections and thanked party leaders in the area for working hard to connect Esit Eket to the mainstream of Nigerian politics.

    He echoed last week’s call by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s to Akwa Ibom people not to play opposition politics again.

    Obong Ekere noted that nearly the entire political class in the state was behind him after abandoning Governor Udom Emmanuel because of his poor performance.

    Read Also: PDP protests posting of police chief Egbetokun to Kwara

    Barr Bassey Dan-Abia, the Esit Eket APC leader, whose nephew and former House of Representatives member for Eket Federal Constituency, Barr Bassey Dan-Abia Jnr, was among the three APC defectors last week, said, contrary to some social media reports, it was the PDP, not the APC, that was suffering mass defection.

    “I assure you that despite the propaganda of massive defection in the social media, as at today, not a single executive member of APC has defected to anywhere. Rather, it is PDP ward executive members that are defecting to APC. In some wards, the entire PDP executive has collapsed into APC because of Obong Nsima Ekere,” he said.

    Barr Dan-Abia, who finished second in the 2018 APC governorship primary, lauded Obong Ekere for reconciling and carrying along his three fellow contestants after the primary.

    He disclosed that there was consensus across party lines in Eket Federal Constituency, where Governor Emmanuel is from, that he should go, having disappointed the people of the four component local government areas of Eket, Esit Eket, Ibeno and Onna.

    Barr Bassey Essien, a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, said they were supporting Obong Ekere because he had long identified with them in Esit Eket unlike Governor Emmanuel who was never part of them.

    “Udom is going. He was never part of us. He had no friend in this community. You are one of us. You are a friend we have known for years. We will not disappoint you and we are sure you will not disappoint us. We are awaiting your swearing in on your birthday on May 29, 2019,” he said.

    Elder Ibanga Etang, the APC campaign coordinator in Esit Eket, apologized to his people for bringing and selling Governor Emmanuel to them as local government chairman in 2015.

    He promised Obong Ekere a clean sweep of Esit Eket’s over 47,000 votes in the 57 units of the area.

    Mr Eseme Eyiboh, a former House of Representatives member, and Mr Augustus Nkuseyin, the Esit Eket APC chapter chairman, spoke along the same line.

    The rally featured the presentation of flags by the APC State Chairman to Senator Nelson Efiong, Mr Kufre Akpabio and Mr Eyo Inyang-Abia Bassey, the APC Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates, respectively.

  • Akwa Ibom PDP alleges plot to seal off Assembly

    Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and of being behind a plot to seal off the state House of Assembly complex.

    State PDP Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong in a statement last night said the party had authoritative information that the police in the state are under orders to take over the Assembly complex.

    The statement titled: “Mixing security and politics: the sure highway to crises” said: “The attempt by the APC to use security forces to convert their  political minuses to an advantage is the surest means of instigating crises in Nigeria’s most peaceful state, Akwa Ibom State.

    Read also: PDP knocks Buhari over alleged plagiarism of Next Level logo

    “News footage of the complaints by the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, against the recently- posted Commissioner of Police to Akwa Ibom, Mr Joe Abang, we learnt has led to the redeployment of the CP and the posting of another Commissioner, who we learnt is under strict instructions to aid the APC to either return the sacked lawmakers to the Assembly or shut down the assembly and prevent her from holding their sittings.

    “The former CP was accused by the APC chairman of aiding and abetting the PDP, but Comrade Oshiomhole is clearly ignorant of the existing court order contained in the judgement or may not be aware of the self activating capacity of Section 109(1) and )(2) which are the foundation upon which the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly acted to declare vacant the seats of the lawmakers.

    “We hereby advise the new Commissioner of Police to note and understand that he is not and cannot become a court of law. The police has a duty of maintaining law and order. The valid judgement of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo is extant and must be obeyed, alongside the constitutional provision applicable in the circumstance. The police should never become the security arm of a political party, it should remain the protector of the citizens and residents of the country,” he stated.

  • 2019: ‘Akwa Ibom PDP more formidable with integration process’

    The Akwa Ibom State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Integration and Harmonisation Committee has said it is making progress in healing the wounds within the party.

    Patrick Ekpotu, former deputy governor, and chairman of the special peace-building committee, spoke in a statement yesterday in Uyo, the state capital.

    The statement reads: “The PDP Integration and Harmonisation Committee, in line with the objective of setting it up by the party leadership, which is to put the PDP house in other by making attempt aimed at healing the wounds of our aggrieved members, and in the spirit of peace, harmony and inclusiveness of Governor Udom Emmanuel, has not only taken off with zest and commitment, but has also within this period it interacted with the first set of local governments, made tremendous progress in bringing everybody together as a one indivisible family, on a table to cement perceived  cracks, by being frank and open and also showing understanding to one another with a unified aim of ensuring  peace and progress of Akwa Ibom state.

    “From out interactions, the Committee delivered, in a best possible way, to leaders and supporters of the party, the important message that unlike other ‘reconciliation committees’, this Integration and Harmonisation Committee, is fashioned to go beyond mere ‘reconciliation’ and in a special way, give every interest a sense of belonging, by putting into action a process of integrating the aggrieved, wether former aspirants at different levels who feel shortchanged, or communities that have reasons to question the party/government’s reward mechanism, into the scheme of things in both the party and the state government.”

    He explained that “the objective is to achieve equity, fairness and justice in the party, which will ultimately lead to peace and harmony in the PDP family, and essentially more electoral success by the party in the state”.

    ‘’So far, the former deputy governor said the Committee had met with the aggrieved  former aspirants, leaders and PDP stakeholders in some local government areas, including, Ikono, Ikot Ekpene, Mkpat Enin, Nsit Atai among others as he enthused: “while we have met with our people from some of these local governments areas and appreciate the gravity of some of the complaints, I am glad to report that the committee is making a tremendous progress. Our task is made easier by the blunt frankness of the people and their willingness to embrace  peace to ensues that the PDP in Akwa Ibom is stronger and more formidable to face the coming election.  We commend them for this resolute commitment to stand firm with the party against the antics,ploys  and devious conspiracy of the naysayers.”

    Ekpotu promised that  “the committee would adopt a transparent open-door approach, by making it easy and convenient for the people, irrespective of educational, social or economic standing, to make their representations to the committee without any encumbrances”.

  • Akwa Ibom PDP strongman defects to APC

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has suffered a crippling blow with the defection of the strongman of the politics of the area, Dr. Godwin Udo Udo, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Dr. Udo, a long-standing political kingmaker popularly called “Mentor” by Ini politicians, defected on Friday at a rally in Methodist School, Mbiabong Ikot Udofia, Ini, with thousands of supporters, including a serving local government supervisor, two chapter executive members, 56 ward executive members and six former councillors.

    His defection came barely three months after the defection of the apex political leader of Ini, Obong Otu Robert Akpan, and the earlier defection of a former House of Representatives Member for Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency, Prof Ini Udoka.

    Dr. Udo said he defected to assist Obong Akpan, a former Chairman of the National Broadcasting Commission, to deliver the area to APC.

    He said that with his defection “God has answered the prayers of APC in Ini because I have never failed to deliver victory during elections and I will not fail this time.”

    Receiving the defectors, Hon Ini Okopido, the APC state chairman said with the number and quality of defectors PDP was finished in Ini because there was no politician of substance left in PDP.

    Obong Nsima Ekere, the APC governorship candidate, attributed the exodus from the PDP into the APC to the acknowledgement of the performance of the federal government of President Muhammadu Buhari by the people of the state and the rejection of the Udom Emmanue-led state government.

    “If the PDP state government was performing, will people be leaving? There is nothing to show for three and a half years in Akwa Ibom State,” he said.

    Senator Godswill Akpabio, the immediate past governor of the state, said it was all over for PDP, saying: “This is total collapse. I don’t like talking when it is all over. I don’t like to return to Egypt. I don’t want to see even a torn umbrella. It is torn. Go and bury it.”

    Obong Otu Robert Akpan said he left PDP because Ini had not benefitted for the three and half years of the government of Governor Udom Emmanuel.

    Hon Victor Udofia, the Member for Ikono State Constituency in the State House of Assembly posited that with the massive defection “PDP has lost the game” in Ini even before the election.

    Mr. Itoro Efrene, the Ini APC chapter chairman said the Ini PDP, which he resigned from as chapter secretary, has finally collapsed with the exit of Udo whom he called “a big fish.”

    Solidarity messages were also delivered by Barr Edidiong Idiong, the APC House of Representatives candidate for Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency and Mr. Nyah Isong, the House of Assembly candidate for Ini State Constituency.

  • Akwa Ibom PDP: Gathering storm over zoning

    Akwa Ibom State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is being threatened by the party’s zoning policy, writes AUGUSTINE AVWODE.

    Tension is brewing in the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Before now, Governor Godswill Akpabio is said to be worried about the party’s zoning policy.

    Feelers from Uyo, the capital of the oil-rich Southsouth state, indicate that party members are raising eyebrows over an attempt to impose the governorship candidate for the next election.

    It was learnt that members of the party, who had widely celebrated the sacking of the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Umana Okon Umana, thinking that it would automatically translate to a level playing ground for every aspirant, are beginning to express apprehension over recent developments. They are worried that a person who never contributed to the development of the party in the past 14 years, may emerge as governorship candidate through imposition.

    The fear of a possible imposition became apparent last week after Governor Akpabio allegedly took steps, which pointed towards the fact that he might be working towards installing the new Secretary to the State Government(SSG), Mr. Emmanuel Udom, as his successor. Some members of the party were said to have been alarmed, when they saw Akpabio on television addressing a gathering of Akwa Ibom State indigenes from the three senatorial districts in a ‘town hall meeting’.

    At the meeting, which held in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Akpabio, called out each of the three senatorial districts and asked the gathering to echo “aye” to the senatorial district that they would prefer for the slot in 2015. At the end of the mock exercise, Eket Senatorial District was pronounced the choice of the people going by the support the zone got. The governor immediately passed the judgment that his successor would come from the Eket Senatorial District. Udom hails from the district.

    In a full page advertorial in national dailies last week, a stakeholder described what happened in Abuja as a “joke, an expensive one at that, at the expense of the good people of Akwa Ibom State.”

    Asked what the solution to the looming crisis might be, a source hinted that it would be better for the governor to abandon any attempt to impose anyone or any senatorial district on the state and allow the people to freely choose their leaders. He noted that Akpabio himself came to power through a liberal process which allowed everyone from every part of the state to be part of the exercise. “He received massive support at the end of the day and we have supported him even until this moment.

    “We call on all people of goodwill, especially leaders of the PDP who have the ears of our governor to advise him properly at this critical moment. Anything otherwise will portend some danger for the unity of the party from what I can see”, he said.

    Part of the advertorial last week read, “We plead that His Excellency, Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio, should not allow himself to be pressured into making hasty decisions and avoidable mistakes that could erase in one day, the legacy he has striven over time to build in Akwa Ibom State. As chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, we are confident that his Excellency would not be a party to anything that might divide our great party, the PDP or throw the state into unnecessary chaos”.