Following what he described as unnecessary insinuations about the oneness of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State, the Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Ini Ememobong has said that the party has no known faction, whether arising from the recently held congresses in the state or not.
According to him, “There was no parallel congress at the ward, chapter or state levels anywhere in Akwa Ibom State. There has not also been any known contention resulting from the congresses at the wards, chapter and state levels, except those which were sufficiently handled by the Appeal Committee of the party duly set up by the National Executive Committee (NEC).”
Comrade Ememobong, who was addressing journalists in his office in Uyo said the insinuations making the rounds that the party did not follow due process during the congresses was unfounded “the party adhered strictly to the arrangement agreed by the state Caucus of the party before the congresses.
“Before the 2015 general elections, the State Caucus of the party met and agreed on a zoning formula where the following offices were zoned as follows: the governor was zoned to Eket Senatorial District, deputy governorship to Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, Speaker to Uyo Senatorial District and the party chairman to Uyo Senatorial District.”
He said with the above arrangement, the party has not erred in any way, wondering why those that claimed to be party members should generate issues where they would not have evidence to back up their claims.
He further explained that the oneness of the party was not in doubt as he stressed that the state contingent to the national convention of the party in Port Harcourt was without any faction “those that were elected during the congresses were those that attended the convention,” he said.
According to him, “To further confirm the unity of the party, the Akwa Ibom State contingent to the national convention, which was held at the Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt comprised of all 329 ward chairmen, statutory chapter officers, all state officers, 31 national delegates, national and State Assembly men, the NEC and Board of Trustees (BoT) members. The presence and pivotal roles of our Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel and the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio was obvious and palpable.”
He therefore urged party faithful in the state to disregard the issues of faction and remain resolute and unflinching in their loyalty to the noble ideals and aims, which the party clearly represents in the state.
‘NO FACTION IN AKWA IBOM PDP’- STATE PUBLICITY SECRETARY
