Obong Paul Ekpo, State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom State has arbitrarily scuttled the decision of the caucus of the party in the State to abide by zoning for all elective positions in 2019.
He
was said to have defied the agitation for the zoning of the Uyo senatorial seat in 2019 to Uyo federal constituency to endorse the incumbent, senator Obong Bassey Albert for a second term last week.
At Bassey Albert’s constituency briefing held last Friday, April 20, 2018, Obong Paul Ekpo said there was no vacancy for the Uyo senatorial seat.
He warned all aspirants from the senatorial district not to contest the senatorial ticket with Obong Bassey Albert Akpan, saying that whoever does that did so at his peril.
“I endorse OBA for a second term. There is no vacancy in the Senate. So anyone who feels like contesting should stay back else he will only be wasting his money”.
Paul Ekpo was a co-chairman of a caucus meeting of the party held on January 20, which resolved that the party will adhere strictly to zoning in 2019.
The chairman’s double speak has caused a stir within the party and may greatly affect the party’s chances in the next general election.
Already, a youth group, Itu/Ibiono Ibom Youth Alliance (IYA) has threatened to withdraw her support from Governor Udom Emmanuel and the PDP if the decision of the caucus of the party of January 20 on zoning is not adhered to.
The group in a statement released on Monday, signed by John Willie Asanga, National President, and Ibanga Sunday Esara, National Secretary, said it is disappointed that Obong Paul Ekpo, State chairman of the PDP has clearly shown biased for and against some members of the party in a bid to promote his inordinate ambition.
The group leaders stressed that they will withdraw their support from the Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel and the PDP if zoning is not upheld.
IYA noted that the actions of the State Chairman of the PDP was aimed at clearly frustrating the little achievements made in rebuilding the party after the fatal defeat of 2015.
In a press statement entitled “Before another fall”, the socio-political group noted that the “PDP in Akwa Ibom State was walking down another dangerous path that could lead to a more fatal fall in 2019”.
The group called on Governor Udom Emmanuel to advise Obong Paul Ekpo to desist from the selfish and divisive actions that could provoke and prompt more people to leave the party.
There has been an unceasing agitation for the zoning of the Uyo senatorial seat in 2019 to Uyo federal constituency.
Stakeholders of the federal constituency led by a former State Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uwem Ita Etuk has said at a meeting held in February this year that his federal constituency will not negotiate the Senate seat in 2019.
Etuk in an interview with journalists in his country home, Nung Udoe, earlier this year said it would be too risky to field Senator Bassey Albert as candidate for the party in 2019.
He had emphasised that if his party desires to avoid “pigmentation of votes” it should select a candidate from Uyo federal constituency for the senatorial seat.
A member of the PDP and former member of the House of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly from Uyo, Mr. Ekere Afia, has said if his party wants it or not someone from Uyo federal constituency will be the next senator to represent the senatorial district in 2019.
Afia has been vociferous in the propagation of the position of the people of Uyo federal constituency for the senatorial seat.
He is said to have threatened to support the opposition party if his party denies his federal constituency her turn in 2019.
Uyo senatorial district has three federal constituencies, Uyo, Etinan, and Itu/Ibiono Ibom. Etinan has done eight years in the Senate. Senator Bassey Albert will be rounding off eight years term for Itu/Ibiono Ibom in 2019. Uyo has only served for four years.
Culled From TheMail Newspaper