By Assam Abia.
In the past weeks, the social media has become a buzzing platform for electioneering as Akwa Ibom State prepares for another local government election.
The attention of the public has recently been drawn to the nauseating vitriolic languages and campaign of blackmail spewed by social media influencers within Eket local government area, even to the disgust of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Gabriel Emmanuel.
Irked by the unfortunate maleficent, the political leader of Eket Senatorial District, Chief Nduese Essien on Tuesday called a meeting of all the chairmanship aspirants, eight of them in number, under the PDP umbrella, in his country home at Ikot Ibiok, Eket, to warn on the dangers of such unwanted trend.
“It is very disgusting the way the campaign is going, especially on the social media, the world is watching us. Any aspirant whose social media influencer or supporter is found engaging in blackmail and hate speeches should consider himself disqualified from the race”, Chief Essien said, fuming.
He drew the attention of the aspirants to the need of not taking the election as a do or die affair, adding that they will be held responsible should their conduct brings breakdown of law and order in Eket.
The two term lawmaker of the House of Representative and former Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria reminded the aspirants that power is ephemeral and comes from God through the people, adding that Eket people will sit down and bring out a person of refined character with traits of patriotism amongst them as chairman of the council area.
“Conduct your campaign in a way that will give you respect because during Party primary and subsequent election, you will be judged by your conduct, campaign of calumny should stop henceforth, Eket should not be synonymous with blackmail of Mbiam politics”, he warned.
The Chapter chairman of PDP in Eket, Obongiwaad Emman Mbong, in his response collaborated on the warnings issued out by the political leader and called on the aspirants to see themselves as leaders of Eket who should be looked upon by the youths for tutelage.
The Eight (8) aspirants gunning for the plump job includes, not by order of popularity, Hon Emman Amos, Hon Akan Tommy, Hon Victor Henry, Hon Ette Monday, Mr David Umem, Elder Emman Edoho, Engr Iniobong Idem and Mr Joseph Ben Ette.
It would be recalled that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has slated the chairmanship primary for Saturday August 22, 2020 ahead of the local government election scheduled for Saturday October, 31st, 2020.
