Despite internal wrangling hinged on disagreements over the zoning of the governorship slot in 2023, which has pitched some federal lawmakers including Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, against Governor Udom Emmanuel, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has assured of quick resolution of the issues in dispute, ahead of the October 30 to 31, 2021 national convention in Abuja.
Senator Akpan, representing the Uyo Senatorial District, is angling to succeed Governor Emmanuel, with the argument that “as power returns to Uyo in 2023, equity demands that the baton moves to Itu\Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency,” noting that “it is the only federal constituency that has not taken the slot since the return of democracy in 1999.”
But the National Legal Adviser of the PDP, Mr Emmanuel Enoidem, was quick to counter such a position, arguing that “power rotation in the state has always been on the basis of Senatorial District, rather than on federal constituency arrangement.”
He, therefore, explained that the contest was open to all PDP aspirants from the (Akwa Ibom North-West), Uyo Senatorial District comprising the three federal constituencies of Itu\Ibiono, Uyo and Etinan.
Speaking to Nigerian Tribune via phone, on Sunday, the state PDP Publicity Secretary, Comrade Borono Bassey, dismissed the feuds as “not holding water,” explaining that such issues would be settled on the round table before the convention.
“Governor Udom Emmanuel as the leader of the party in the state is very desirous of ensuring the enthronement of the PDP at the centre, and we are working towards the goal of delivering Nigeria from the stranglehold of this anti-people party comes 2023.
“Before the convention, all issues will be settled for the party in Akwa-Ibom State to go to the convention and join other states to chart a common front towards ushering in a new era of PDP across states and the centre in 2023,” he assured.
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