Amid shouting and near-brawl scene, the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial district Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders meeting ended in a fiasco Sunday evening.
Held at Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor’s Lodge in Uyo, the meeting presided over by Mr. Moses Ekpo, the state Deputy Governor was attended by some members of National Assembly, State House of Assembly, PDP stalwarts, Senatorial aspirants, Chairmen, Chapter executive members, local government chairmen and other critical stakeholders.
An insider told Straightnews that the well-attended meeting which began after 4 p.m. was convened by the Deputy Governor to appreciate PDP stakeholders from the district for their support to the party.
”At the end of the meeting, representatives of the four Federal Constituencies in the Senatorial District- Obong Eno Akpan representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam; Senator Aloysius Etok- Ikono/Ini; Senator Emmanuel Ibokessien- Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara; Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem- Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika as well as Uwemedimo Nwoko, SAN, were appointed into the communiqué Drafting Committee.
”Eventually, Senator Ibokessien read the communiqué, which in parts, commended the state Governor Udom Emmanuel for the support he has given to his deputy and pledged their unalloyed support and cooperation with the Governor.’’
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”However, what broke the camel’s back was the inclusion of Barrister Emmanuel Enoidem, immediate past National Legal Adviser of PDP, as a consensus PDP Senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial seat in the 2023 general elections.
”Once it was read, one Ubong Idiong rose and demanded the portion be expunged since, according to him, the matter was neither discussed nor agreed by the stakeholders. This enraged other stakeholders at the meeting resulting in shouting order and near-brawl scene.
”He was shouted down, but the man stood his ground. At a stage, an aide to the Deputy Governor was said to have asked the man to leave the meeting but he refused. When the aide shouted to walk him out by force, the man insisted that if his hand touched him he would retaliate without delay. At that point, the meeting turned to shouting arena and quarrels and name callings and threats,” the eye witness narrated.
Already, another source present at the meeting told Straightnews that ”It amounted to political naivety for the Deputy Governor to have convened the meeting in Government House to endorse a particular person for Senate when there are many other aspirants. Why did he allow the meeting that went smoothly be hijacked by a few politicians? As at now, it is rumoured that Barr, Igwat Umoren from Oruk Anam, Akan Eyo from Etim Ekpo, Saviour Enyiekere from Ika and others are eyeing the seat.”
Some Stakeholders’ Reactions on social media
Taking to social media, Akan Eyo wrote Sunday night ”Over desperation to produce a mock consensus via an orchestrated communique for a desperate aspirant as per Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District for 2023 arranged by a few known cabals failed today as it ended in a fiasco at the AKS Dep. Gov. Lodge in Uyo this evening.
”How can anyone in a sound mind think of being produced in a contest that involves others in January that is still months away? Is this the peace we want in the state? The whole hurried so called consultation of the past 2 weeks by the sponsored aspirant of the group was geared towards the kangaroo adoption and the right venue they thought of was to abusively use the Government House for fear of resistance but alas, they got their shocker from a serious spontaneous reaction which reflects the thinking of majority of the people of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.
”May I remind this group of desperadoes that want to remain in control of AKS forever that Senate of the Federal Republic is not a place for UNDER THE JOB TRAINING. Senate needs a cognitive experienced personality who would be a ranking member for purposes of proper legislative functioning and as this would benefit the District, state and the party more.
”Being in a hurry to do what they are doing now is not just a false desperate move but heating up the polity in the state which has totally defeated the whole essence of the much peace our dear Governor is so sincerely concerned about. If this desperate move of theirs was to send signal to certain quarters for support and adoption, it has failed as others including myself would commence the usual politicking and the routine of consultations too with my own team for proper evaluation, choice, selection and nomination via a due process as stipulated by the party.
”May party and government officials play the fatherly role of neutrality and create a level playing field for us all until a candidate emerges for their adoption and this must also extend to other offices as it would surely sustain and maintain the much needed peace we so desire in the state. I salute you all and to God be the glory.
Emmanuel Enoidem responded ”Akan Eyo good evening. This is a very childish ranting obviously very peculiar to you. This write up smacks of clear ignorance of who was the convener of the meeting which you were duly invited, those in attendance and their right to do what they just did.
”Perhaps, you need to be reminded since you have not always been a member of PDP that the decision to endorse a particular aspirant for the senatorial district race started in:
-1999 with Senator Emmanuel Ibokessien;
-2003 with Senator Itak Bob Ekarika
-2007 with Senator Aloysius Etok;
-2011 with Senator Aloysius Etok again for a 2nd term;
-2015 with Senator Godswill Akpabio which the youths of the senatorial bought his nomination form under my watch; and
-2019 Senator Chris Ekpenyong.
”Am not afraid of contesting election with you at any time my brother so stop being childish.
Go ahead with your aspiration which you had since started with phones calls consultations since last year.
No one is stopping you from your aspiration. So stop insulting the leaders of the Senatorial District, especially, the Dep Gov of Akwa Ibom State, who convoked the New Year get together and who also reserved the right to do what they just did in line with the tradition of the senatorial district since 1999…’’
Reacting too, Rt. Hon. Udo Kierian Akpan penned ”It is disappointing to see you being an author of this kind of write up. In the first place Ati Annang platform is not the right place for this post. Again you were not in the meeting and I’m not sure your informant gave you a correct picture of what transpired there.
Akpan who is a third-term member representing Oruk Anam State Constituency in Akwa Ibom House of Assembly noted ”Again Painting a picture that the person the stakeholders are putting forward for the job is unfit for the job is to say the least very derogatory and not expected of someone like you.
”If you feel strongly that you are the best person for the job all you can do is to put yourself forward and rally people around you not to disparage the action of major stakeholders of the senatorial district you belong or seek to represent.’’
However, Rt. Hon. Saviour Enyiekere, another stakeholder posted in social media “Some people are afraid to contest for common party nomination even when they claim to have all the delegates in their pockets…… Pushing for illegal adoption……” A veiled reference to Enoidem’s position as DG of Maintain Peace Movement (MPM).”
Ikot Ekpene Senatorial seat: The Journey so far
In 1999, it took the intervention of Chief Don Obot Etiebet who was a foundation signatory to the PDP charter, for Engr. Emmanuel Ibok Essien to emerge as the sole candidate.
In 2002/2003, it was the intervention of Arc. Obong Victor Attah, the incumbent Governor who promoted the cause of Chief Itak Bob Ekarika who was Chairman of Cooperative Development Bank. Some people may argue that it may have been settlement following the pre-1999 business dispute between Emmanuel Ibok Essien ‘ s company Rittman Nigeria and Chief Itak Bob Ekarika’s bank Cooperative Development Bank (CDB).
In 2006/2007 nomination and election, Mr. Saviour Udoh from Obot Akara LGA, a private business man was the dark horse who defeated several well-known politicians in a keenly contested primary held at the Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium. But the exigencies of negotiating the governorship to Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District where there are two LGAs, Ikono and Ini, harbouring Ibibio speaking people while the other eight are Annang speaking necessitated the fielding of Hon. Aloysius Etok from Ediene in Ikono LGA as the Senatorial candidate.
It could be recalled that Aloysius Etok was not in the top three after the primary, but his previous legislative experience as Minority Whip at Federal House of Representatives (1992/1993) and member, AKHA 1999-2003 endeared him to the negotiators. Same principle retained him in 2011 as the governorship was still in the senatorial district.
In 2015, through a process of guided transition, the incumbent governor orchestrated his nomination and election in a well-choreographed script. The circumstances of the 2019 nomination are still fresh as the criteria included someone who would less likely seek re-election.
At the moment, Obong Chris Ekpenyong is the Senator representing the Senatorial District in the National Assembly took over the mantle from 2019 to end in 2023.
The ding dong business of choosing PDP Senatorial candidate for the district has begun, while that of All Progressives Congress in on the wings. And the political gladiators are busily mooting gimmicks, subterfuge and intrigues to ensure the emergence of the Senatorial flag bearer in the 2023 National Assembly elections.