Youth of Etim Ekpo and Ika local government areas under the auspices of Community Ambassadors For Udom Gabriel Emmanuel have called on the state governor and state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Udom Emmanuel and Obong Paul Ekpo, respectively, to cancel the just concluded PDP Ward Congresses of Etim Ekpo and Ika LGAs, saying it was characterized by irregularities and fraud.

The group in a press statement made available to Radar Newspaper in Uyo, dated; 10th September 2018, and signed by its executives including president, Comrade Udeme Inyang; vice president, Efremfon Udoekpo; general secretary, Mr. Iniobong Sunday; woman leader, Mrs. Alice Etim and youth leader, Cosmas Udoekong, stated that; “As grassroot mobilisers of the party (PDP), we feel it would amount to betraying our party for the APC (All Progressives Congress) ahead of the 2019 general elections if we fall to notify the party at the state level and aggrieved party members are allowed to walk away with their grievances, because that will spell doom for our dear party (PDP).”

“We call on you Sirs, to use your good offices as the governor of the state and state chairman of the party, to cancel the outcome of the Etim Ekpo and Ika ward Congresses for the sake of justice, fairness and for the overall interest of the party’s wellbeing in our local government areas,” they averred.

According to the youth body; “the list of persons purported to have defected to the APC in Etim Ekpo and Ika LGAs was false, misleading and mischievous.” They said that the false news was spread by the elders of Etim Ekpo and Ika, in order, to make the governor and state chairman of PDP to give them free hands to hijack the entire process of selection of the party’s delegates to the primaries, vowing to work against the PDP if fresh congresses are not held in Etim Ekpo and Ika LGAs to elect delegates ahead of the party’s primaries.

They accused the elders of PDP in Etim Ekpo and Ika of destroying the party, saying that; “because of the attitude of these elders, many prominent sons and daughters of Etim Ekpo and Ika LGAs have defected to APC and we don’t want this act to continue in forthcoming election, they can’t deliver alone without the collective efforts of all the people. The interest of the party should be supreme.”

The association said that it is out to pursue justice and not personalities for victory of the party, waring that; “the action of these elders was only in favour of one aspirant, Hon. Aniekan Umanah against the interest of others like; Hon. Patrick Udomfang and Rt. Hon. Friday Iwok,” seeking that it be cancelled and fresh congresses be held to give all the aspirants equal opportunity.

 

All efforts to reach Aniekan Umanah and the Publicity secretary of the PDP, Ini Ememobong proved abortive.

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