By Martins Inyangetoh
As the December 2 date for Local Government Election in Akwa Ibom state draws near, the Peoples Democratic Party, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, has taken its campaigns to Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin, Eastern Obolo and Onna, presents Flags to successful Councillorship Candidates.
The State Chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo who led the Members of the State Executive Council of the Party alongside other Party Stakeholders from the different LGAs, to the events, in his speech, said that, PDP which has become a sort of religion to Akwa Ibom people will win convincingly in the forthcoming election because the party is working assiduously towards achieving the victory.
Obong Ekpo charged all Successful Candidates to go back to their various Wards, villages and Units to preach the gospel of PDP to all Members and continue to work closely with the grassroot members so as to ensure massive victory for the party in the forth coming election as well as the 2019 general elections.
His words, “PDP with all her strength and People as members will continue to do more in sensitizing, reorienting and rekindling in the minds of all Akwa Ibom people that PDP is the party to belong to and that we will win again on 2nd December, 2019”. “All of you who emerged as successful candidates during the last Primaries should remember that you are vested with the responsibility of sensitizing and mobilizing all members across the local Governments, wards,Villages,Units in the state”
Obonganwan Mary Umana-ette,Akwa Obonganwan Patience Ukpa and Dr Imefon Udoh in their separate remarks on behalf of the women in their respective areas, reaffirmed the resolve of the Women to uphold their support for the party as PDP has sustained its tradition of offering the women a 35% opportunity to serve the people in various positions at different levels in the state.
The Youth Caucus Chairman; Hon Etini Ayara, Ikot Abasi, Hon Emem Alex from Ekpatenin, Mr Daniel Nwa from Onna on behalf of the youths in their respective areas affirmed that the youths in their areas are intact and in full support of PDP, stressing that they will work in unison till total victory is achieved by the party in the forthcoming Election.
Hon Chelly Okoko, Dr Uduak Udoinyang, Hon Ubong Ukwang and Mr Nkangude, in their remarks affirmed that with the best Chairmanship and councillorship Candidates in Ikot Abasi as presented by the PDP, the area will be delivered for PDP in the forthcoming Local Government Election and in 2019.
They used the opportunity to applaud Governor Udom Emmanuel for his visionary leadership and the political inclusion approach he has continued to demonstrate in governance, especially in his bid to industrialize the state.
They also thanked the Party for having conducted very peaceful primaries, promised to offer 100% support to PDP come the L.G election and beyond 2019.
Also speaking, Hon Barr Jerry Akpan, Barr Ekong Sampson, Hon Mfon Nkanteon and Mrs Ekaeette Usip, in their separate speeches, affirmed that Mkpat Enin will deliver the Chairmanship/Vice Chairmanship Candidates and 14Councillorship Candidates on December 2, 2017 for PDP because the area is predominantly, totally, and comprehensively PDP. They pledged the zeal of the people of the area to keep faith with PDP by reelecting Mr Udom in 2019 as Mkpat Enin remains a big PDP Family.
Speaking also, Chief Sunny Udonsek, Mr Ephraim Inyang-enyen, Dr Ndoho in their remarks at Onna affirmed the area’s resolve to support the party, promising to deliver the 14 Party Candidates in the forthcoming election.
The peak of the Campaign tour was when the Party recorded another defection feat in Mkpat Enin. Speaking on behalf of the defectors in Mkpat Enin, Mr Ini Ekanem eulogised the party for giving them the opportunity to return to their original party that gave them the platform to Excel. His words, ” I am very sorry for having left the party to APC and I regret ever misleading my supporters.”We have seen that APC has collapsed and so we are back to the party that is full of the movers and shakers in the area”. We are back to the party that is accommodating…he added. Ini Johnson(Ward Vice Chairman) and other APC Chieftains defected to PDP.
The campaign Tour featured the presentation of the Flags to the respective councillorship candidates of the party by the Leader of the party; His Excellency Mr Udom Emmanuel who was represented by the State Chairman of the party, Obong Paul Ekpo in company of party bigwigs such as, Engr Uwem Okoko, Rt Hon Francis Charles Uduyok, Hon Adasi ubolom, Engr Festus Sunday, Hon Sampson, Hon Ukomkpa Bernard, Selina Ukpatu, Innocent Tom, Comrade Cyril Umoren, Rt Hon. Mrs Owoidehe Ekpo among all other Party Stakeholders.
Those who attended the rallies include, Members of the Green Chambers, Members of the State House of Assembly, Members of the State Executive Council, State Chairman and Members of the State Executive Council of the Party, Transition Chairmen and Members of the Caretaker Committee of the Local Government Areas, Chapter and Ward Officers of the Party, Standard Bearers of the Party, other Members, Supporters of the Party among others.
The campaign train is expected to move round other local government areas of the state, where the other councillorship candidates will be presented with their Flags as scheduled by the Party Leadership.
