AKS PDP zones 2015 governorship to Eket Senatorial District

    - Declares support for Goodluck Jonathan
    - Passes vote of confidence on Gov. Akpabio
BY GODWIN SAM

The state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has finally declared its stand on the 2015 governorship position in the State by its declaration of Eket Senatorial District as the home for the next Governor.

This declaration was made in a communiqué reached at the end of an enlarged meeting of the State Executive Committee of the party held on Tuesday, 22nd April, 2014, at the Banquet Hall of the Governor’s Office in Uyo.

Declaring the position of the Party, the State Chairman of PDP, Obong Paul Ekpo, said that the decision to zone the governorship position to Eket Senatorial District was informed by the overall decision of the people of the State, gathered from the ten federal constituencies in the just-concluded town hall meetings. This decision, according to the Party chairman is premised on the provision of the Party’s constitution in section 24(2), which empowers the State Executive Committee of the Party to “identify and resolve political, social and economic issues of concern in the State”.


Furthermore, Obong Paul Ekpo, citing section 7, sub 3(c) of the PDP constitution to support this decision said that the Party shall pursue its aims and objectives by “adhering to the policy of the rotation and zoning of Party and Public elective offices in pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness”.
Also speaking at the meeting, the executive Governor of the State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, thanked the State Executive Committee members of the Party for coming out in their numbers to attend the meeting. He explained the rationale for the State Secretary’s absence, Mr. Udom Emmanuel and other members of the State Executive Committee members of the Party.

The State Governor also used the occasion to debunk the rumours making the rounds that the State Government is owing a debt of N400billion; that the State House of Assembly in 2012 approved N81billion loan for the State Government and that his administration is remitting N5billion monthly to the bank as payment for the loan. He however promised to continue to work for the overall interest of the people and to continue in the deliverance of democracy dividends to all parts of the State.

Present at the event were the State Deputy Governor, Lady Valerie Ebe; Mr. Uwem Ita Etuk, former state Party chairman, Otu Ita Toyo; Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, Hon. Udo Kerian Akpan, Sen. Itak Ekarika, Sen. Anietie Okon, Sen. Emmanuel Ibokessien, Sen. Ita Enang, Federal House Members, and some House of Assembly members. Others present were the elected local government chairmen, chapter chairmen of the Party in the 31 local government areas, and the elected vice chairmen of the party in the 31 local government areas.

However, some key players in the State PDP were conspicuously absent. They included the former State Secretary, Obong Umana Okon Umana, Obong Tony Esuh, Obong Sunny Udom, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Sam Ikon, Hon. Onofiok Luke, Hon. Okpolupm Etteh, Sen. Aloysius Etok, Sen. Helen Esuene, Chief Nelson Effiong, Rt. Hon. Bernard Udo etc. Meanwhile, no commissioner was allowed into the meeting except Obong Eno Akpan and Mr. Emmanuel Enoidem. According to the State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, the issue of who should truly be seen as an Elder/Stakeholder of the Party will soon be resolved as according to him, some people are parading themselves as Elders/Stakeholders of PDP in the State.