By CHIDI OKOH
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) delegates in Akwa ibom State have expressed deep concern over the planned relocation of the party’s governorship primary election slated for May 21, 2022, to Army barracks, Ibagwa in Abak council area of the state against the Uyo township stadium which had been the acceptable venue over the years.
It was gathered that the plot was at advanced stage and the plotters would advance provision of adequate security as their reason for the relocation of the governorship primaries to military barracks which is over 30 kilometers away from the state capital.
Speaking with newsmen in Uyo after a crucial meeting held at Unique Gardens Ewet Housing Estate on Monday, Mr. John Etefit, one of the statutory delegates said the state government desirous to impose their anointed aspirant on the party has concluded plans to stampede the party into taking the primaries to Ibagwa barracks.
Etefit said: “After fruitless efforts to get most of us to support the aspiration of Pastor Umo Eno hit brick wall, subtle and open threats have been employed which we resisted and now the idea of taking the primaries to the barracks have birthed.
He added: “We were told by core supporters of the government preferred aspirant that their final joker is the barracks where only their supporters will be allowed access and others supporting other aspirants turned back and if they insists on getting in, then soldiers will be directed to unleash mayhem on them”
Another statutory delegate, Mr Asuquo Ekanem from Oruk Anam council area, hinted that some top PDP state officials, who are not buying into the Pastor Umo Eno project, have quietly informed them that the state executive of the party were already tinkering with the idea of Ibagwa barracks venue to please the government.
He said: “Democracy is fully under threat in Akwa Ibom state, the state government in sheer readiness to impose their preferred aspirant is leaving no stone unturned in enthroning dictatorship.
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“They are no longer appealing or lobbying us to accept their aspirant but asking us to wait and see if we will even have access to the venue, we were informed that we will hear our names mentioned but accreditation tags will be given to their men on ground and there is nothing we will do about it”.
Other PDP delegates, who spoke to journalists appealed to well-meaning Nigerians, human rights groups, international community and other related bodies, to turn their searchlight to Akwa ibom State as the primaries may set the “once peaceful state on fire and unprecedented carnage”.
“Any venue outside the Uyo township stadium is not acceptable to us,” Mr Aniefiok Ekefre one of the delegates from Uyo said.
“It must be one man one vote at the primaries, let the popular and acceptable aspirant emerge. They told us that their preferred aspirant is the God’s choice for Akwa Ibom people, why arm-twisting the same people to embrace God’s choice? Akwa Ibom people are now wiser and ready to change the narratives, there will be no third term by surrogate and we are not leaving the party for opportunists.”
The concerned PDP delegates further vowed to embark on mass protest and petition the national secretariat of the party should the planned relocation of the governorship primaries to the barracks considered by the state chapter of the party.
“The essence of the relocation is to rig the primaries with ease after chasing away those they considered opposition to their project with soldiers but we won’t allow that to happen, we are ready to protect the future of our children and the coming generation with our blood, a few people cannot dictate to over seven million Akwa ibom people,” Mrs. Maria Ekpe from IKA said.
When contacted on the raging matter, the state publicity secretary of the party, Mr Borono Bassey, said the matter is still at the realms of speculation.
“It’s purely speculations by outsiders at this moment,” he said.
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