Darlington DAVID
Ahead of the forthcoming Local Government election, the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned its members, stakeholders and high ranking political office holders to refrain from every tendency of imposition of candidates on the people of the state during the party’s primaries.
Speaking through its Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, in Uyo on the Thursday, the party cautioned its members ranging from Senators, House of Representatives members and others to desist from mounting pressure on the people, but to allow justice, fair play and due process to be followed in the conduct of the election.
According to the State Publicity Secretary, “God will definitely punish whoever may attempt to hijack the process or impose any candidate, who may not have gained the general acceptance of the people, on the people of the state.”
“The party therefore warned perpetrators of such act against the touted idea of mock exercise to present their ‘anointed candidates’ instead of primaries, where a credible candidate would emerge through the general acceptance of the people they are aspiring to serve,” he said.
“The party is insisting on primaries that would allow everyone to participate. And the Governor has shown example. In ONNA, the Governor has said he is not interested in who becomes the next Local Government Council Chairman of his area. He said everyone should go to the field.”
“But we have noticed a consistent attempt by some people who are used to impunity to impose candidates, and I want to remind them that power does not belong to man, it belongs to God and therefore I can assure whoever is attempting to impose candidates that the punishment of God is awaiting them. It’s a simple thing. Ensure a free and fair participation; let there be women and youths; allow all qualified persons who are interested to run. The United Nations is insisting on gender participation and people are trying to work against that. God rules over the affairs of men. God is the source of equity. God is the source of equality and therefore we can sound it loud and clear to them that God will punish them.”
“Allow a process, let people aspire, people come to the party with hope, do not diminish their hope. Why are people afraid of primaries? They should be told clearly that the party guideline and constitution does not recognize the word ‘mock’, because mockery is shameful! Go to primaries and win nomination through a free, fair and credible process that the party is willing and ready to abide by. The party will resist such very seriously”. He said
Comrade Ememobong, therefore, advised the people of the state not to be docile, maintaining that “the party is like a court, and can only act on evident before it. Therefore, the people, who have evidence of imposition, should approach the party. The party Chairman is committed to free and fair primaries and the Governor has insisted so.”
He regretted that after going through the stress involved in the process of obtaining nominations, screening exercise, aspirants whose intentions may be to serve the people would be schemed out of the race for some ‘anointed individuals’ who may not work in the best interest of the people.
