PDP PRIMARIES: AKWA IBOM ALWAYS SETTING THE PACE

Reading the dailies of Wednesday January 5, 2011 one discovered that the House of Assembly primaries taking place in the PDP had Akwa Ibom’s as unique. Protesters had marched on Akwa Ibom Government House with complains for Governor Akpabio who as at press time had no time for them (protesters); so the newspapers reported. Rather, according to The Nation, “Security agents including the Police, State Security Service (SSS) and solders have been drafted to Government House gate to forestall a breakdown of law and order”.

The protesters carried various placards and came from all the nooks and crannies of the State. Chairman of the House of Assembly Nomination Committee, Umaru Dan Adah, had cancelled many primaries conducted because of irregularities. Specifically, Okon Edet from Urue Offong Oruko confirmed that National Vice Chairman of the party diverted polling materials meant for his area. In Ibiono Ibom, Oron, Ika/Etim Ekpo, etc, altogether, the protesters accused four of Akpabio’s Commissioners of doing similar thing. Even the State PDP deputy chairman and head of AKPF, Bishop Akpan escaped from being mobbed as a result of his involvement in the fraud (irregularities) but his car’s windscreen was shattered as he tried to impose candidate of his choice.

In Governor Akpabio’s native-home constituency, Essien Udim, the election could not hold as the venue was relocated to the Mobile Police Barracks. The people of Ikot Abasi where the deputy governor comes from had a medical doctor aspiring for House of Assembly assassinated; five aggrieved aspirants were deceived to go home after waiting unending for the election to hold on Tuesday January 4, whereas the election later held in the wee hours of the next day. Those took a full page paid advertisement in The Nation January 5, page 59 protesting to the National Chairman of PDP, on the issue. 

Among the protesting youths was the Secretary of Ibiono Ibom youth group, Nsongurua Eyibio who warned Governor Akpabio that if he allows the current arrangement to succeed, there would not be a hitch-free election as most Akwa Ibomites are aware of the false endorsements the governor claims to have gotten. People now say that the governor has been double-speaking and regrets that shocker awaits him at the polls because people are determined to be registered, vote and get their votes counted on the spot. With all this and defections from PDP to other parties, especially ACN where there is a bit of decorum, the PDP has lost the State from May 29, 2011.

Samuel Okon Bassey, Goldie Street, Calabar, Cross River State.