Odot Ukana
Ad-hoc delegates in the just concluded PDP delegate election in Eket Federal Constituency have called on the Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, to warn his Works Commissioner, Mr. Ephraim Inyangeyen, and the Ibeno political leader, Okpolupm Ette, against their alleged plot to doctor the list of successful delegates in the federal constituency.
Speaking to our correspondent, Mrs. Mfon Itrecho, one of the elected delegates from Ibeno local government said that information at their disposal is that the works Commissioner and his ally from Ibeno, has been going around bragging that they will change the names of the elected delegates to favour their ordained aspirants.
Mrs. Itrecho describe the alleged plans (if true) as a fiat that will threaten the victory of the party in the forthcoming election, saying that all the elected delegates have concluded plans to protest to the government house if their names are tampered with.
Also Speaking, Evang. Ben from ONNA local government said that Eket federal constituency seat is a must win for the Governor ‘being his federal constituency’ in 2019, and that having an opposition party who will wheel all his electoral apparatus in the election, popular and acceptable candidates that will be voted across party lines should be allowed to emerge.
Ben stressed that in the face of a would-be ferocious election in the state, with an opposition party that intends to use impunity, violence to rig election in their favour, victory can only be achieved through a transparent party primary.
“If the Governor must win election, those whose election precedes the Governorship election, most especially in his domain, must win to prove a point to the opposition; meaning they must be popular and grassroots accepted people”
It could be recalled that one of the reasons that led to the defection of Barr. Bassey Dan Abia (Jnr), a former Commissioner in the State Judiciary Commission and many other stalwarts of the PDP across the senatorial district, is traceable to the uncouth behavior and gladiatorial attributes of the Works Commissioner, which is endangering the success of the governor in 2019.
They emphasize that the outcome of the delegate election in the federal constituency is known to everyone and that any attempt to scuttle it will breathe trouble that might not be resolved before the general election, warning that any ill treatment meted on a committed party man might lead to the balkanization of the party in the Governors home.
The delegates, numbering over 7 has called on the Governor to know that if his federal constituency boils as a result of intra-party impunity and barefaced fraud, originating from his allies, who should sacrifice their ego for his reelection, the outcome might be precarious.
They however reaffirmed their total commitment to ensure the governor emerges victorious in the forthcoming election to shame the opposition party who claims to have chariots and horses.
