Newsfront Online …Telling the Public as it is
…As ‘System’ Jittery Over Alleged Bribery Activities
Akwa Ibom State Governor cannot sponsor court cases against the Party through Uche Secondus and turn around to dictate for Leadership, says an NEC member.
Governor Udom Emmanuel’s desperate efforts to lobby the NEC and NWC of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to save him from disgrace by upholding the disqualification of some aspirants from Akwa Ibom state,
has finally hit a brick wall.
The state chapter of PDP, working on instructions and directives from Mr Emmanuel who is the leader of the party in Akwa Ibom had disqualified some aspirants to the various elective offices, last week, against the extant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Amongst some of the aspirants disqualified were Former Chief of Staff, Ephraim Inyangeyen, National Assembly member Emmanuel Ukpong Udo, David Lawrence, Akpadiaha Ebitu and one other.
Newsmen understand that Section 84 (3) states clearly that: “A political party shall not impose nomination qualification or disqualification criteria, measures, or conditions on any aspirant or candidate for any election in its constitution, guidelines, or rules for nomination of candidates for elections…”
Consequently, after a careful consideration of reports of the Appeal Panel, the NWC cleared all the victimised aspirants in line with the electoral act, it was learnt. Feelers from sources at Wadata Plaza, the national office of PDP, indicates that the governor, who has practically relocated to Abuja, used every available means to influence the decision of the party leadership into upholding the unpopular decision but to no avail.
It was gathered that NWC was particularly miffed by what it considered a ridiculous requirement of a receipt for age declaration, in the case of a certain aspirant from the state. The first sign of Udom’s failure at inducing the national party’s decision, according to our source, was when the national working committee (NWC) shifted the congress meant to produce House of Assembly candidates from Saturday, April 7, 2022 to April 18, 2022.
Another source, who is a strong member of NWC, explained that unknown to Mr Emmanuel, some members hold him in bad light following the realisation that he was the one who sponsored Mr Uche Secondus’ court case against the party.
Although Mr Emmanuel keeps reminding PDP that he is one of the few governors with deep purses to fund the party, it was learnt that many NWC members argued that it would be unreasonable to toy with the party’s chances in the next election, by allowing injustice and imposition of unpopular candidates.
The panel, it was gathered, after listening to various complains accompanied with convincing evidences, from some aggrieved aspirants, strongly recommended an upturn of the state party’s decision not to clear some aspirants.
Apparently, in a desperate bid to sustain his inflated ego, the governor allegedly jetted out of Uyo on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 with over ten big-bags suspected to contain wades of naira meant for bribing his wish into reality. These wades of Ghana must go bags allegedly containing naira notes meant for bribing Party officials are said to have been seen with a Certain Edwin who is a liaison officer to Government in Abuja.
However, sources said all entreaties to bribe Party officers fell on deaf ears as the Sen Iyorcha Ayu-led NWC team is said to have been very resolute on issues of justice, equity and fair-play.
Pundits are of the opinion that judging from the determination of the NWC to maintain its integrity, justice will also be done full-circle on the ad hoc delegates election, which also attracted so much rancour, discontent, complaints and petitions.
(Source: Ibom Nation Except headline)
